The History of The Life of The Late Mr. Jonathan Wild The Great


Book Description

The History of The Life of The Late Mr. Jonathan Wild The Great by Henry Fielding is a satirical novel that paints a vivid portrait of one of literature’s most infamous antiheroes. First published in 1743, Fielding's narrative follows the rise and fall of Jonathan Wild, a notorious English criminal who ambitiously sought to control London's underworld. Through the lens of comedy and social critique, Fielding exposes the hypocrisy of society, blending the genre of picaresque with sharp political satire. Wild is depicted as a man of extraordinary cunning and self-interest, striving to achieve power and wealth by manipulating both the law and the criminal world. The novel is filled with wit and irony as Fielding critiques both the moral decay of society and the corrupt nature of those who seek fame and fortune at any cost. Wild’s adventures provide a lens into the vices and follies of the 18th-century British elite, making it a pointed commentary on human nature, ambition, and greed. The History of the Life of the Late Mr. Jonathan Wild The Great is not just a historical account of a notorious figure, but a timeless exploration of the complexities of human behavior, the pursuit of power, and the consequences of self-serving ambition. Fielding’s masterful use of humor and satire makes this work a seminal piece of English literature. Get your copy of this classic satire and explore the story of Jonathan Wild's rise and inevitable fall!




Jonathan Wild


Book Description

'he carried Good-nature to that wonderful and uncommon Height, that he never did a single Injury to Man or Woman, by which he himself did not expect to reap some Advantage' The real-life Jonathan Wild, gangland godfather and self-styled 'Thieftaker General', controlled much of the London underworld until he was executed for his crimes in 1725. Even during his lifetime his achievements attracted attention; after his death balladeers sang of his exploits, and satirists made connectionsbetween his success and the triumph of corruption in high places. Henry Fielding built on these narratives to produce one of the greatest sustained satires in the English language. Published in 1743, at a time when the modern novel had yet to establish itself as a fixed literary form, Jonathan Wild is at the same time a brilliant black comedy, an incisive political satire, and a profoundly serious exploration of human 'greatness' and 'goodness'.



















The Works of Henry Fielding


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