The Adventures of Roderick Random (Oxford World's Classics) - Softcover

Smollett, Tobias

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0199552347 ISBN 13: 9780199552344

Publisher: OUP Oxford, 2008

Synopsis

Roderick Random (1748), Smollett's first novel, is full of the dazzling vitality characteristics of all his work, as well as of his own life. Roderick is the boisterous and unprincipled hero who answers life's many misfortunes with a sledgehammer. Left penniless, he leaves his native Scotland for London and on the way meets Strap, and old schoolfellow. Together they undergo many adventures at the hands of scoundrels and rogues. Roderick qualifies as a surgeon's mate and is pressed as a common soldier on bord the man-of-war Thunder. In a tale of romance as well as adventure, Roderick also finds time to fall in love... Smollett drew on his own experiences as a surgeon's mate in the navy for the memorable scenes on board ship, and the novel combines documentary realism with great humour and panache.
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About this title

From the Back Cover

A tale of adventure and romance, it is written with great humour and panache. The memorable scenes on board ship, which provide an invaluable picture of the British sailor of the day, are drawn from Smollett's personal experience as a surgeon's mate in the navy.

Edition details

• Publisher: OUP Oxford
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0199552347
• ISBN 13: 9780199552344
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 528
• Editor: Boucé Paul-Gabriel