The Expedition of Humphry Clinker - Softcover

Smollett, Tobias George

Softcover

ISBN 10: 159605509X ISBN 13: 9781596055094

Publisher: Cosimo Classics, 2005

Synopsis

Before I was born, [my aunt] had gone such lengths in the way of flirting with a recruiting officer, that her reputation was a little singed. She afterwards made advances to the curate of the parish... -from "To Sir Watkin Phillips, of Jesus college, Oxon, Bath, May 6" An often overlooked but nevertheless important name in the history of the English novel, Tobias Smollett greatly influenced Dickens, with his unsentimental depiction of poverty, and was a favorite of William Makepeace Thackeray, who called The Expedition of Humphry Clinker "the most laughable story that has ever been written since the goodly art of novel-writing began." An early example of the epistolary novel, consisting entirely of letters written between its characters, this is Smollett's last book, completed and published just before his death in 1771. Far less brutal than his earlier work, it is the comic story of Humphry Clinker, a poor lad who joins a touring party of aristocrats on their journey through city and country. Smollett's satire on the well-to-do and the fripperies that consumed their society echoes in countless writers who came after him, from Jane Austen to "Bridget Jones" with her diary. Scottish writer TOBIAS GEORGE SMOLLETT (1721-1771) trained as a surgeon but found far more success as a novelist; he also worked as an editor and translator. Among his works are Roderick Random (1748) and The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle (1751).

About this title

Review:

This is the first really significant scholarly edition of the last-published novel by Smollett, which includes some wonderful illustrations. . . . Nothing seems to have been overlooked by Preston and Brack here in their efforts to present to the modern reader "the" most authoritative edition."--"Choice"

This is the first really significant scholarly edition of the last-published novel by Smollett, which includes some wonderful illustrations. . . . Nothing seems to have been overlooked by Preston and Brack here in their efforts to present to the modern reader "the" most authoritative edition.--"Choice"

This is the first really significant scholarly edition of the last-published novel by Smollett, which includes some wonderful illustrations. . . . Nothing seems to have been overlooked by Preston and Brack here in their efforts to present to the modern reader the most authoritative edition.

--Choice

About the Author:

Tobias is the author of several books, inclu ding the Adventures of Roderick Random and the Adventures of Peregrine Pickle.

Arthur Machen (1863 1947) was born Arthur Llewellyn Jones in Caerleon in Wales. Moving to London, but living an impoverished existence, Machen eventually found success with his horror novella 'The Great God Pan', and soon after 'The Three Impostors'. Machen firmly established himself as a master storyteller of decadent supernatural horror, publishing several occult and weird tales with memorable plots and a real skill for the esoteric, creating dark and suspenseful atmospheres.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cosimo Classics
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 159605509X
• ISBN 13: 9781596055094
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 340