Season 2 Episode 1

Tom Jones is a novel written by Henry Fielding and published in 1749. It is considered one of the greatest English-language novels of the 18th century and a masterpiece of picaresque literature. The book tells the story of Tom Jones, a young man of unknown parentage who embarks on a series of adventures and misadventures as he navigates the complexities of love, social class, and moral dilemmas.

The plot of "Tom Jones" follows the eponymous protagonist as he grows from an abandoned infant to a charming and spirited young man. Raised by the benevolent Squire Allworthy, Tom's journey is marked by his pursuit of love, encounters with various women, and encounters with villains. Along the way, he faces temptations, societal disapproval, and challenges to his honor. Fielding weaves a tale that encompasses themes of morality, virtue, and the consequences of one's actions.

"Tom Jones" is notable for its lively and humorous narrative style, as well as its exploration of human nature and the complexities of relationships. Fielding's vibrant characters and intricate plot create a rich tapestry of 18th-century English society, offering a satirical commentary on class divisions, hypocrisy, and the foibles of human behavior.

It's worth noting that "Tom Jones" has been adapted for various forms of media over the years, including radio dramas. These adaptations aim to capture the essence of Fielding's novel through voice performances, sound effects, and music, bringing the charm and wit of "Tom Jones" to audiences in an engaging audio format.

Books in Sound is a free podcast series that presents a collection of hundreds of the world’s greatest books through the magic of the performing arts.

Different from audiobooks: Instead of having a single narrator read an audiobook, these performances have a full cast of actors, suitable background music, and special effects that help define the drama.

Most presentations are from old time radio theater broadcasts that have been remastered to remove most of the hissing, clicking and volume fluctuations. Many of the presentations are from the 1930's and 1940's, so a significant amount of work went into the remastering process.

Most presentations are about one hour, some are multiple hours, and some are abbreviated presentation that last about half an hour, making this series wonderful for bedtime stories, self-improvement by learning about literature, or simply as a very imaginative form of entertainment.

The episodes are not sequential, but we do recommend listening to the complete collection starting with the first episode so that you can grow and benefit from the wide assortment of styles and content.

For more information visit https://www.booksinsound.com