# The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

> 1749 novel by Henry Fielding

**Wikidata**: [Q248096](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q248096)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_Tom_Jones,_a_Foundling)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/the-history-of-tom-jones-a-foundling

## Summary
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling is a 1749 English novel by Henry Fielding, classified as both a bildungsroman and a picaresque novel. It traces the moral and psychological growth of its protagonist, Tom Jones, from youth to adulthood.

## Key Facts
- **Title**: The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (aliases: Tom Jones, The History of Tom Jones)
- **Publication Date**: 1749 (+1749-00-00T00:00:00Z)
- **Author**: Henry Fielding (implied by genre association and preceding work)
- **Sitelink Count**: 34
- **Wikipedia Title**: The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
- **Primary Genres**: Literary work, bildungsroman, picaresque novel
- **Publisher**: Andrew Millar (British, 1705–1768)
- **Place of Context**: England (country in north-west Europe, part of the United Kingdom)
- **Preceding Work**: The Life and Death of Jonathan Wild, the Great (1743 satiric novel by Henry Fielding)

## FAQs
**What genre is The History of Tom Jones?**  
It is a bildungsroman, focusing on the protagonist’s psychological and moral growth from youth to adulthood, and a picaresque novel, featuring a lower-class young protagonist on a journey.  

**Who published the novel?**  
It was published by Andrew Millar, a British publisher (1705–1768) known for literary works.  

**How does it relate to other works by Fielding?**  
It succeeded Fielding’s 1743 satiric novel, The Life and Death of Jonathan Wild, the Great.  

**Where was the novel published?**  
It was published in England, a country in north-west Europe and part of the United Kingdom.  

**What is its classification?**  
It is a literary work, defined as a written work read for enjoyment or edification.  

## Why It Matters  
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling is a cornerstone of English literature for pioneering the bildungsroman genre by centering on a protagonist’s moral evolution. As a picaresque novel, it influenced later works by using a journey-driven narrative to explore social hierarchies. Its publication by Andrew Millar, a key figure in British publishing, cemented its role in shaping the 18th-century literary canon. The novel’s dual-genre fusion solved the era’s demand for both realistic character development and adventurous storytelling.

## Notable For  
- Foundational example of the bildungsroman genre, emphasizing psychological and moral growth.  
- Key picaresque novel, featuring a lower-class protagonist’s journey through diverse social landscapes.  
- Published by Andrew Millar, a British publisher (1705–1768) who shaped 18th-century literary distribution.  
- Preceded Fielding’s satiric work, The Life and Death of Jonathan Wild, the Great (1743).  
- Associated with England, the country where it was published and contextualized.  

## Body  
### Overview  
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling is a 1749 novel by Henry Fielding, published under the aliases "Tom Jones" and "The History of Tom Jones." It has 34 sitelinks and is officially titled *The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling* on Wikipedia.  

### Classification  
The novel is classified as a **literary work**, a category for written works read for enjoyment or edification. It is specifically a **bildungsroman**, a genre focused on the protagonist’s psychological and moral growth from youth to adulthood. Additionally, it is a **picaresque novel**, characterized by a lower-class young protagonist who undertakes a journey, often facing moral ambiguities.  

### Context  
The novel is set in **England**, a country in north-west Europe and part of the United Kingdom. Its publication history is tied to **Andrew Millar** (1705–1768), a British publisher involved in literary works, as confirmed by his citizenship and occupational roles (, , ).  

### Literary Lineage  
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling is preceded by **The Life and Death of Jonathan Wild, the Great**, a 1743 satiric novel by the same author. This succession positions it within Fielding’s broader literary exploration of social and moral themes.  

### Significance  
The novel’s dual-genre framework—combining bildungsroman character development with picaresque episodic adventure—addressed the 18th-century demand for accessible yet psychologically complex narratives. Its publication in England underscored the cultural impact of British literature, while its classification as a literary work solidified its role in the canon of enjoyable and edifying reading.

## References

1. MusicBrainz
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [The History of Tom Jones by Henry Fielding | Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL45623W/The_History_of_Tom_Jones?edition=key%3A/books/OL40213240M)
4. Q136534809
5. Integrated Authority File
6. Virtual Study of Theatre Institute