The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling

The story follows Tom Jones, a foundling discovered on a wealthy landowner's estate, who matures into a spirited and compassionate young man. His affection for a socially superior neighbor's daughter highlights class tensions. The novel's candid exploration of themes like prostitution and promiscuity was groundbreaking for its time, contributing to its notoriety. Structured into 18 shorter books, it is recognized as one of the earliest English-language novels, marking a significant development in literary history.