Tom Jones

Abandoned as a newborn in the bed of the local squire, Allworthy, somewhere in England's south west, Tom Jones is informally adopted by the kind but firm gentleman, treated almost as if a son of his own and raised with great expectations for his future.

Now a young man coming into his own, Jones is intelligent, witty, handsome, sporty, and has a particular fondness for the pleasures of the flesh - something a number of local women, not least Molly Seagrim, are happy to let him indulge in! However, his heart lies truly with Sophie, the beautiful, fair daughter of Allworthy's neighbour, Squire Western.

When she in turn realises her own fondness for Tom, they allow their desires and intentions let slip, only to find their families - notably Squire Western - utterly horrified; for whilst Tom may have been raised as a gentleman, he most certainly is not one by birth.

Western and Allworthy conclude that the only possible course of action is to hurriedly marry Sophie to George Blifil, Allworthy's supercilous, sneering nephew by his beloved, late sister. Largely raised alongside Tom, George is his opposite in almost every regard, and the apple of their tutors' eye.

After a fright on Allworthy's life, it takes little for the trio to concoct a plan that sees Tom ostracised and permanently expelled from the house. Heading towards London, he runs into an array of locals and travellers alike who do him no good at all with their company; a band of militiamen on the march northward leave Tom in a particularly bad state, and an inept highwayman is initially equally unwelcome an acquaintance.

London, however, has much in store for the wayward young man yet - his adventures have barely begun.