The Fool of Quality: Or, the History of Henry, Earl of Moreland; Volume 5

First published in 1766, this sprawling novel follows the life of Henry, Earl of Moreland, from his humble beginnings as an orphaned watchmaker's apprentice to his eventual rise to wealth and status. Along the way, he encounters a colorful cast of characters and engages in philosophical debates around morality, religion, and politics. A fascinating example of 18th-century literature and a precursor to the bildungsroman genre.