The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, by Henry Fielding

BOOK:

1. Containing as Much of the Birth of the Foundling as is Necessary or Proper to Acquaint the READER WITH IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS HISTORY
   1. The introduction to the work, or bill of fare to the feast
   2. A short description of Squire Allworthy, and a fuller account of Miss Bridget Allworthy, his sister
   3. An odd accident which befel Mr. Allworthy at his return home. The decent behaviour of Mrs. Deborah Wilkins, with some proper animadversions on bastards
   4. The reader's neck brought into danger by a description; his escape; and the great condescension of Miss Bridget Allworthy
   5. Containing a few common matters, with a very uncommon observation upon them
   6. Mrs. Deborah is introduced into the parish with a simile. A short account of Jenny Jones, with the difficulties and discouragements which may attend young women in the pursuit of learning
   7. Containing such grave matter, that the reader cannot laugh once through the whole chapter, unless peradventure he should laugh at the author
   8. A dialogue between Mesdames Bridget and Deborah; containing more amusement, but less instruction, than the former
   9. Containing matters which will surprize the reader
   10. The hospitality of Allworthy; with a short sketch of the characters of two brothers, a doctor and a captain, who were entertained by that gentleman
   11. Containing many rules, and some examples, concerning falling in love: descriptions of beauty, and other more prudential inducements to matrimony
   12. Containing what the reader may, perhaps, expect to find in it
   13. Which concludes the first book; with an instance of ingratitude, which, we hope, will appear unnatural
2. Containing Scenes of Matrimonial Felicity in Different Degrees of Life; And Various Other Transactions During the First Two Years After the Marriage Between Captain Blifil and Miss Bridget Allworthy
   1. Showing what kind of a history this is; what it is like, and what it is not like
   2. Religious cautions against showing too much favour to bastards; and a great discovery made by Mrs. Deborah Wilkins
   3. The description of a domestic government founded upon rules directly contrary to those of Aristotle
   4. Containing one of the most bloody battles, or rather duels, that were ever recorded in domestic history
   5. Containing much matter to exercise the judgment and reflection of the reader
   6. The trial of Partridge, the schoolmaster, for incontinency; the evidence of his wife; a short reflection on the wisdom of our law; with other grave matters, which those will like best who understand them most
   7. A short sketch of that felicity which prudent couples may extract from hatred: with a short apology for those people who overlook imperfections in their friends
   8. A receipt to regain the lost affections of a wife, which hath never been known to fail in the most desperate cases
   9. A proof of the infallibility of the foregoing receipt, in the lamentations of the widow; with other suitable decorations of death, such as physicians, &c., and an epitaph in the true stile
3. Containing the Most Memorable Transactions which Passed in the Family of Mr. Allworthy, FROM THE TIME WHEN TOMMY JONES ARRIVED AT THE AGE OF FOURTEEN, TILL HE ATTAINED THE AGE OF NINETEEN. IN THIS BOOK THE READER MAY PICK UP SOME HINTS CONCERNING THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN
   1. Containing little or nothing
   2. The heroe of this great history appears with very bad omens. A little tale of so low a kind that some may think it not worth their notice. A word or two concerning a squire, and more relating to a gamekeeper and a schoolmaster
   3. The character of Mr. Square the philosopher, and of Mr. Thwackum the divine; with a dispute concerning—
   4. Containing a necessary apology for the author; and a childish incident, which perhaps requires an apology likewise
   5. The opinions of the divine and the philosopher concerning the two boys; with some reasons for their opinions, and other matters
   6. Containing a better reason still for the before-mentioned opinions
   7. In which the author himself makes his appearance on the stage
   8. A childish incident, in which, however, is seen a good-natured disposition in Tom Jones
   9. Containing an incident of a more heinous kind, with the comments of Thwackum and Square
   10. In which Master Blifil and Jones appear in different lights
4. Containing the Time of a Year
   1. Containing five pages of paper
   2. A short hint of what we can do in the sublime, and a description of Miss Sophia Western
   3. Wherein the history goes back to commemorate a trifling incident that happened some years since; but which, trifling as it was, had some future consequences
   4. Containing such very deep and grave matters, that some readers, perhaps, may not relish it
   5. Containing matter accommodated to every taste
   6. An apology for the insensibility of Mr. Jones to all the charms of the lovely Sophia; in which possibly we may, in a considerable degree, lower his character in the estimation of those men of wit and gallantry who approve the heroes in most of our modern comedies
   7. Being the shortest chapter in this book
   8. A battle sung by the muse in the Homerican stile, and which none but the classical reader can taste
   9. Containing matter of no very peaceable colour
   10. A story told by Mr. Supple, the curate. The penetration of Squire Western. His great love for his daughter, and the return to it made by her
   11. The narrow escape of Molly Seagrim, with some observations for which we have been forced to dive pretty deep into nature
   12. Containing much clearer matters; but which flowed from the same fountain with those in the preceding chapter
   13. A dreadful accident which befel Sophia. The gallant behaviour of Jones, and the more dreadful consequence of that behaviour to the young lady; with a short digression in favour of the female sex
   14. The arrival of a surgeon- his operations, and a long dialogue between Sophia and her maid
5. Containing a Portion of Time Somewhat Longer than Half a Year
   1. Of the serious in writing, and for what purpose it is introduced
   2. In which Mr. Jones receives many friendly visits during his confinement; with some fine touches of the passion of love, scarce visible to the naked eye
   3. Which all who have no heart will think to contain much ado about nothing
   4. A little chapter, in which is contained a little incident
   5. A very long chapter, containing a very great incident
   6. By comparing which with the former, the reader may possibly correct some abuse which he hath formerly been guilty of in the application of the word love
   7. In which Mr. Allworthy appears on a sick-bed
   8. Containing matter rather natural than pleasing
   9. Which, among other things, may serve as a comment on that saying of AEschines, that "drunkenness shows the mind of a man, as a mirrour reflects his person"
   10. Showing the truth of many observations of Ovid, and of other more grave writers, who have proved beyond contradiction, that wine is often the forerunner of incontinency
   11. In which a simile in Mr. Pope's period of a mile introduces as bloody a battle as can possibly be fought without the assistance of steel or cold iron
   12. In which is seen a more moving spectacle than all the blood in the bodies of Thwackum and Blifil, and of twenty other such, is capable of producing
6. Containing About Three Weeks
   1. Of love
   2. The character of Mrs. Western. Her great learning and knowledge of the world, and an instance of the deep penetration which she derived from those advantages
   3. Containing two defiances to the critics
   4. Containing sundry curious matters
   5. In which is related what passed between Sophia and her aunt
   6. Containing a dialogue between Sophia and Mrs. Honour, which may a little relieve those tender affections which the foregoing scene may have raised in the mind of a good-natured reader
   7. A picture of formal courtship in miniature, as it always ought to be drawn, and a scene of a tenderer kind painted at full length
   8. The meeting between Jones and Sophia
   9. Being of a much more tempestuous kind than the former
   10. In which Mr. Western visits Mr. Allworthy
   11. A short chapter; but which contains sufficient matter to affect the good-natured reader
   12. Containing love-letters, etc.
   13. The behaviour of Sophia on the present occasion; which none of her sex will blame, who are capable of behaving in the same manner. And the discussion of a knotty point in the court of conscience
   14. A short chapter, containing a short dialogue between Squire Western and his sister
7. Containing Three Days
   1. A comparison between the world and the stage
   2. Containing a conversation which Mr. Jones had with himself
   3. Containing several dialogues
   4. A picture of a country gentlewoman taken from the life
   5. The generous behaviour of Sophia towards her aunt
   6. Containing great variety of matter
   7. A strange resolution of Sophia, and a more strange stratagem of Mrs. Honour
   8. Containing scenes of altercation, of no very uncommon kind
   9. The wise demeanour of Mr. Western in the character of a magistrate. A hint to justices of peace, concerning the necessary qualifications of a clerk; with extraordinary instances of paternal madness and filial affection
   10. Containing several matters, natural enough perhaps, but low
   11. The adventure of a company of soldiers
   12. The adventure of a company of officers
   13. Containing the great address of the landlady, the great learning of a surgeon, and the solid skill in casuistry of the worthy lieutenant
   14. A most dreadful chapter indeed; and which few readers ought to venture upon in an evening, especially when alone
   15. The conclusion of the foregoing adventure
8. Containing About Two Days
   1. A wonderful long chapter concerning the marvellous; being much the longest of all our introductory chapters
   2. In which the landlady pays a visit to Mr. Jones
   3. In which the surgeon makes his second appearance
   4. In which is introduced one of the pleasantest barbers that was ever recorded in history, the barber of Bagdad, or he in Don Quixote, not excepted
   5. A dialogue between Mr. Jones and the barber
   6. In which more of the talents of Mr. Benjamin will appear, as well as who this extraordinary person was
   7. Containing better reasons than any which have yet appeared for the conduct of Partridge; an apology for the weakness of Jones; and some further anecdotes concerning my landlady
   8. Jones arrives at Gloucester, and goes to the Bell; the character of that house, and of a petty-fogger which he there meets with
   9. Containing several dialogues between Jones and Partridge, concerning love, cold, hunger, and other matters; with the lucky and narrow escape of Partridge, as he was on the very brink of making a fatal discovery to his friend
   10. In which our travellers meet with a very extraordinary adventure
   11. In which the Man of the Hill begins to relate his history
   12. In which the Man of the Hill continues his history
   13. In which the foregoing story is farther continued
   14. In which the Man of the Hill concludes his history
   15. A brief history of Europe; and a curious discourse between Mr. Jones and the Man on the Hill
9. Containing Twelve Hours
   1. Of those who lawfully may, and of those who may not, write such histories as this
   2. Containing a very surprizing adventure indeed, which Mr. Jones met with in his walk with the Man of the Hill
   3. The arrival of Mr. Jones with his lady at inn; with a very full description of the battle of Upton
   4. In which the arrival of a man of war puts a final end to hostilities, and causes the conclusion of a firm and lasting peace between all parties
   5. An apology for all heroes who have good stomachs, with a description of a battle of the amorous kind
   6. A friendly conversation in the kitchen, which had a very common, though not very friendly, conclusion
   7. Containing a fuller account of Mrs. Waters, and by what means she came into that distressful situation from which she was rescued by Jones
10. In which the History Goes Forward About Twelve Hours
    1. Containing instructions very necessary to be perused by modern critics
    2. Containing the arrival of an Irish gentleman, with very extraordinary adventures which ensued at the inn
    3. A dialogue between the landlady and Susan the chambermaid, proper to be read by all inn-keepers and their servants; with the arrival, and affable behaviour of a beautiful young lady; which may teach persons of condition how they may acquire the love of the whole world
    4. Containing infallible nostrums for procuring universal disesteem and hatred
    5. Showing who the amiable lady, and her unamiable maid were
    6. Containing, among other things, the ingenuity of Partridge, the madness of Jones, and the folly of Fitzpatrick
    7. In which are concluded the adventures that happened at the inn at Upton
    8. In which the history goes backward
    9. The escape of Sophia
11. Containing About Three Days
    1. A crust for the critics
    2. The adventures which Sophia met with after her leaving Upton
    3. A very short chapter, in which however is a Sun, a Moon, a Star, and an Angel
    4. The history of Mrs. Fitzpatrick
    5. In which the history of Mrs. Fitzpatrick is continued
    6. In which the mistake of the landlord throws Sophia into a dreadful consternation
    7. In which Mrs. Fitzpatrick concludes her history
    8. A dreadful alarm in the inn, with the arrival of an unexpected friend of Mrs. Fitzpatrick
    9. The morning introduced in some pretty writing. A stage-coach. The civility of chambermaids. The heroic temper of Sophia. Her generosity. The return to it. The departure of the company, and their arrival at London; with some remarks for the use of travellers
    10. Containing a hint or two concerning virtue, and a few more concerning suspicion
12. Containing the Same Individual Time with the Former
    1. Showing what is to be deemed plagiarism in a modern author, and what is to be considered as lawful prize
    2. In which, though the squire doth not find his daughter, something is found which puts an end to his pursuit
    3. The departure of Jones from Upton, with what passed between him and Partridge on the road
    4. The adventure of a beggar-man
    5. Containing more adventures which Mr. Jones and his companion met on the road
    6. From which it may be inferred that the best things are liable to be misunderstood and misinterpreted
    7. Containing a remark or two of our own, and many more of the good company assembled in the kitchen
    8. In which fortune seems to have been in a better humour with Jones than we have hitherto seen her
    9. Containing little more than a few odd observations
    10. In which Mr. Jones and Mr. Dowling drink a bottle together
    11. The disasters which befel Jones on his departure for Coventry; with the sage remarks of Partridge
    12. Relates that Mr. Jones continued his journey, contrary to the advice of Partridge, with what happened on that occasion
    13. A dialogue between Jones and Partridge
    14. What happened to Mr. Jones in his journey from St. Albans
13. Containing the Space of Twelve Days
    1. An invocation
    2. What befel Mr. Jones on his arrival in London
    3. A project of Mrs. Fitzpatrick, and her visit to Lady Bellaston
    4. Which consists of visiting
    5. An adventure which happened to Mr. Jones at his lodgings, with some account of a young gentleman who lodged there, and of the mistress of the house, and her two daughters
    6. What arrived while the company were at breakfast, with some hints concerning the government of daughters
    7. Containing the whole humours of a masquerade
    8. Containing a scene of distress, which will appear very extraordinary to most of our readers
    9. Which treats of matters of a very different kind from those in the preceding chapter
    10. A chapter which, though short, may draw tears from some eyes
    11. In which the reader will be surprized
    12. In which the thirteenth book is concluded
14. Containing Two Days
    1. An essay to prove that an author will write the better for having some knowledge of the subject on which he writes
    2. Containing letters and other matters which attend amours
    3. Containing various matters
    4. Which we hope will be very attentively perused by young people of both sexes
    5. A short account of the history of Mrs. Miller
    6. Containing a scene which we doubt not will affect all our readers
    7. The interview between Mr. Jones and Mr. Nightingale
    8. What passed between Jones and old Mr. Nightingale; with the arrival of a person not yet mentioned in this history
    9. Containing strange matters
    10. A short chapter, which concludes the book
15. In which the History Advances About Two Days
    1. Too short to need a preface
    2. In which is opened a very black design against Sophia
    3. A further explanation of the foregoing design
    4. By which it will appear how dangerous an advocate a lady is when she applies her eloquence to an ill purpose
    5. Containing some matters which may affect, and others which may surprize, the reader
    6. By what means the squire came to discover his daughter
    7. In which various misfortunes befel poor Jones
    8. Short and sweet
    9. Containing love-letters of several sorts
    10. Consisting partly of facts, and partly of observations upon them
    11. Containing curious, but not unprecedented matter
    12. A discovery made by Partridge
16. Containing the Space of Five Days
    1. Of prologues
    2. A whimsical adventure which befel the squire, with the distressed situation of Sophia
    3. What happened to Sophia during her confinement
    4. In which Sophia is delivered from her confinement
    5. In which Jones receives a letter from Sophia, and goes to a play with Mrs. Miller and Partridge
    6. In which the history is obliged to look back
    7. In which Mr. Western pays a visit to his sister, in company with Mr. Blifil
    8. Schemes of Lady Bellaston for the ruin of Jones
    9. In which Jones pays a visit to Mrs. Fitzpatrick
    10. The consequence of the preceding visit
17. Containing Three Days
    1. Containing a portion of introductory writing
    2. The generous and grateful behaviour of Mrs. Miller
    3. The arrival of Mr. Western, with some matters concerning the paternal authority
    4. An extraordinary scene between Sophia and her aunt
    5. Mrs. Miller and Mr. Nightingale visit Jones in the prison
    6. In which Mrs. Miller pays a visit to Sophia
    7. A pathetic scene between Mr. Allworthy and Mrs. Miller
    8. Containing various matters
    9. What happened to Mr. Jones in the prison
18. Containing About Six Days
    1. A farewell to the reader
    2. Containing a very tragical incident
    3. Allworthy visits old Nightingale; with a strange discovery that he made on that occasion
    4. Containing two letters in very different stiles
    5. In which the history is continued
    6. In which the history is farther continued
    7. Continuation of the history
    8. Further continuation
    9. A further continuation
    10. Wherein the history begins to draw towards a conclusion
    11. The history draws nearer to a conclusion
    12. Approaching still nearer to the end
    13. In which the history is concluded