The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding

the great works of the English literary canon, this comic masterpiece, first published in 1749, draws us into the lives of two neighbouring Somersetshire squires and friends, one genial and generous, the other a hot-headed lover of the hunt and the bottle, who conspire together, on the basis of a mutual misunderstanding, to marry the former's nephew to the latter's daughter, very much to the discomfort of the young lady herself, whose true affections lie with Tom Jones, a foundling (ie, bastard child of persons unknown) whom the genial squire has raised almost like a son, but who has of late disgraced himself in various ways, some real and others imagined.

While there are not many true villains in this tale, several key players are extremely sure they have right on their side, and don't mind expressing themselves with great gusto, while ever waiting in the wings is the author himself, ready to step forward and share his own thoughts on the action — and, indeed, on almost any other subject that occurs to him on the spur of the moment. - Summary by Peter Dann