What's Tom Jones like?

the bits quoted in the rhetoric of fiction make it sound quite fantastic, to me, at the moment.

From time to time, within the liesurely course of the narrative flow which characterizes that paragon of eighteenth century prose Fiction which the Reader may already be acquainted with under the guise and name of Tom Jones, a name more common than the contents of said book, one may observe many lengthy sentences which roll out their sonorous and complicated Measures to a beat more relaxed, nay, more somnolent indeed, than we moderns are used to in these fast-paced and hectic times, where carriages fly along at incredible speeds, hauling in some cases, a brace of horses behind them in mobile stalls, a thing hardly to be credited, yet verified by this Narrator more than once. If (and nothing could be more certain than this) one may enter into the Spirit of that slower Age, contented to while away his indolent Hours savouring the choice wit displayed therein, in the selection of words and phrasing and most especially in their delicate counterbalance one to the other, then I may confidently predict that Tom Jones will once again duplicate in that Reader the success de estime it has inspired in millions of his fellows since the day of its first appearance in the world, however inauspicious that day at first appeared to the unwary and untutored eye of a Publick, so soon unblushingly to yield the full extent of its Favours to that book.

Aimless pretty much nailed it in regards to the prose style.

It is very much worth reading if you have the time, as is Tristram Shandy too. Both books are much better, in my opinion, than a large portion of post-Austen, pre-modernism English literature.

Set the bar high, mj.

It's a helluva book, and not at all intimidating once you tune in to 18th century prose. (I don't think Fielding's style is quite as ornate as Aimless paints it, but yeah, a lot of the pleasure's in the prose.)

like many of the books mentioned in 'the rhetoric of fiction', (e.g. most of flaubert) this is on my "to-be-read-once-i-see-a-copy-for-sale-in-an-oldschool-penguin-classics-edition" list

I used to have the Penguin Classics edition. It was beautiful. :(

I second the Tristram Shandy comparison. Get to know the narrator of Tom Jones, and you'll feel sorry when the journey ends.

It is a fantastic book and well worth the (small) effort required to get into it.

It is a fantastic book (as is Tristram Shandy) and well worth the (small) effort required to get into it.

What you're all forgetting to mention is that the Narrator is absolutely HILARIOUS and FULL OF VENOM. Well worth reading, absolutely.

i loved how reckless it was

I didn't find Fielding's prose at all labored. In fact, he emphasizes plot over language, and once you've made the mental adjustment to the diction, it speeds along nicely.

One of the funniest books I've ever read, and one that's great to turn to when the world's got you down.