The Adventures Of Ferdinand Count Fathom

by Tobias Smollett

Overview

"The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom" is a novel by Tobias Smollett. The story follows the titular character, a young man of unknown parentage who sets out to make his fortune in the world. Fathom is initially presented as charming and charismatic, but soon reveals himself to be a ruthless and deceitful opportunist. Fathom begins his adventures as a con artist, manipulating and swindling people for his own gain. He meets a variety of characters, including wealthy socialites, criminals, and members of the working class. Along the way, he engages in a variety of schemes, from gambling and forgery to seduction and murder. Despite his many misdeeds, Fathom manages to charm his way into the affections of several women, including a wealthy heiress and a virtuous young woman named Monimia. However, his schemes eventually catch up with him, and he is imprisoned and sentenced to death. In the end, he repents of his misdeeds and is spared from execution, but is left to live out his days in ignominy. "The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom" is a darkly comic satire that explores the themes of deception, morality, and class in 18th century society. It is considered one of Smollett's most important works and a notable contribution to the literary genre of picaresque fiction.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789358019032
Publisher:	Double 9 Books
Publication date:	05/01/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Tobias Smollett was a Scottish novelist, poet, and journalist who was born in 1721 in Dalquhurn, Scotland. He studied medicine in Glasgow and worked as a surgeon's mate in the Royal Navy, an experience that inspired his writing in later years. Smollett's first published work was "The Regicide," a play that was staged in 1749. He went on to write a number of novels, including "The Adventures of Roderick Random" (1748), "The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle" (1751), and "The Expedition of Humphry Clinker" (1771), all of which were popular and influential in their time. In addition to his literary work, Smollett was a journalist and editor, and he wrote political and social commentary for a number of newspapers and magazines. He was also a translator, and he translated a number of works from French and Italian into English. Smollett was known for his satirical and humorous writing style, and his works often reflected his experiences in the military and his observations of society. He died in Italy in 1771 at the age of 50, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most significant writers of the 18th century.

Editorial Reviews

With this title the University of Georgia Press begins its projected ten-volume critical edition of Smollett's major works, thereby addressing a need in 18th-century scholarship. For despite Smollett's importance, most of his writings, including this title, are out of print in both the United States and Britain. Beasley's introduction and extensive notes (some 80 pages) seek to make the work accessible to the modern reader by placing it in historical context and explaining words and allusions that may be unfamiliar. Undergraduate and public libraries that have the 1971 Oxford English Authors edition need not buy this, but scholars and libraries serving them will want to subscribe to the series. Joseph Rosenblum, Univ. of North Carolina at Greensboro

Library Journal