Joseph Andrews

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Joseph Andrews, the first full-length novel by Henry Fielding, was published in 1742 and is considered one of the earliest novels in English. Fielding describes it as a "comic epic poem in prose," chronicling the adventures of a good-natured footman, Joseph Andrews, as he journeys home from London with his mentor, the absent-minded parson Abraham Adams. The novel embodies the clash of two literary styles of the eighteenth century: the mock-heroic and neoclassical approach of Augustans like Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift, and the more popular domestic prose fiction of writers such as Daniel Defoe and Samuel Richardson. Drawing inspiration from various sources, it imitates Cervantes' style and humor, employing a picaresque structure characterized by digressions and lower-class characters. While it features bawdy humor, themes of impending marriage, and mysteries surrounding parentage, it also delves into philosophical reflections, classical knowledge, and social commentary, showcasing the complexity and richness of its narrative.