Follows the fortunes of Tom, a foundling brought up by the kindly squire Allworthy. Despite a good and generous heart, Tom's naive inability to resist a pretty face leads to his downfall and he is banished from the Squire's house. But when the girl he really loves, Sophia, runs away to escape from her arranged marriage to his rival, the despicable Blifil, Tom pursues her to London, embarking on a series of riotous and frequently amorous adventures...

Abandoned as a baby, rescued and adopted by a country gentleman, Tom Jones grows up kind, handsome, free-spirited, and very popular with the ladies. But he cannot escape his lowly birth. When he falls in love with the bright, beautiful heiress Sophia Western, and she falls in love with him, their families unite against the match. They both end up in London, facing the wiles and whims of Sophia's aunt, the beguiling but dangerous Lady Bellaston, who...

Each volume provides discussions of the literary and historical background of novels from various cultures and time periods. Includes concise synopses of plot, characters and themes, a brief author biography, discussion of the story's cultural and historical significance, and excerpted criticism.