The History of Tom Jones. A foundling. By Henry Fielding (Collector's Edition).

Collector's Edition. Easton Press. 1980. Beautiful, well made and designed book, written by one of the greats – Henry Fielding. Fine and genuine leather bound. Book accented in 22kt gold. Condition: Like New. Small minor wear on top corner. The second page has an ex libris (label) from the publisher (Easton Press) with owner's signature on the label. 1668g. 18x26x4cm. This book is printed on archival quality paper especially milled for this collector's edition with gilded edges made to last well into future generations. The end sheets are of moire fabric with a silk ribbon page marker. Smyth sewing and concealed muslin joints to ensure the highest quality binding. This book is in full leather with hubbed spines. "His designs were strictly honourable, as the phrase is; that is, to rob a lady of her fortune by way of marriage". Ribald and rollicking, Tom Jones is Fielding's comic classic of a young man's coming-of-age. While recognized today as a landmark of the English novel, Dr. Johnson once observed, "I am sorry to hear you have read it; a confession which no modest lady should ever make."Tom Jones: The History of a Foundling was originally published in 1749 in six volumes and revised by the author for a four-volume edition issued the same year. (Between 1749 and 1787 it appeared in translation in seven European countries; in 1872 it was translated into Czech, and in 1959 into Finnish.) Tom Jones was included in the first edition of Fielding's collected Works in 1762, inaccurately edited by Arthur Murphy, and reprinted three times by 1783. A complete edition of the novels, edited by Sir Walter Scott, was published in 1821. The ten-volume Shakespeare Head edition of Fielding was issued by Oxford University Press in 1926. An edition of Tom Jones illustrated by Rowlandson came out in Edinburgh in 1805, and a London edition illustrated by Cruikshank in 1831. George Saintsbury edited it for Everyman's Library in 1909. In 1974 a two-volume edition was prepared by Fredson Bowers for the Wesleyan Edition of Fielding's complete writings (Wesleyan University Press, Middletown, Conn.). The edition containing T.M. Cleland's illustrations and Louis Kronenberger's introduction was first published in two volumes by The George Macy Companies, Inc., New York (copyright 1952, © 1980). This Collector's Edition was published by advance reservation exclusively for subscribers to the Easton Press collection of The 100 Greatest Books Ever Written. The special contents are copyright © 1979 by the Easton Press.