Thursday, December 15, 2011

Humphry Clinker

1771, Signet Classic edition 1960
Tobias Smollett
The Expedition of Humphry Clinker
Original and purchase price unknown
Cover just fell off but otherwise not bad condition for its age
B-

Mr. Clinker is not one of the five letter writers in this novel, and indeed doesn't show up till about a quarter of the way in.  He's revealed to be the bastard son of one of the main characters, but it's much less of a revelation than Tom Jones's parentage.  Overall, plot and even characterisation are not the strengths of this story.  I most enjoy the whole travelogue aspect: descriptions of Bath, London, Edinburgh, etc.  This is roughly halfway between the times of Henry Fielding and Jane Austen, so it's an interesting stop on the journey.  How can I not be amused by the description of a strange sport the Scots enjoy--golf?!  Or how about the part where the traveling party is hosted by that charming Scotsman, Mr. Smollett?  This is definitely a minor contribution to literature, but it's a pleasant one.

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