Joseph Andrews

1742, 1960 New American Library edition
Henry Fielding
Joseph Andrews
Original price not shown, bought used for $1.95
Decent condition considering the age
C

While the idea of a male version of Pamela (a novel that I couldn't get through years ago because I was disgusted by the manipulative villain/love interest) is a good one, Fielding's first novel is weakened by boring characters (main and supporting), a meandering style, and frequent outbreaks of violence.  These last two qualities are perhaps due to this story being "written in the manner of Cervantes."  But what Fielding apparently didn't understand is that we care about Don Quixote, Sancho Panza, and the rest, and we're happy to wander with them, as well as see them suffer and survive.  Even the "off topic" stories introduced in Don Quixote are more entertaining than the ones in Joseph Andrews.  Also, Cervantes had compassion and humor.  Fielding had these qualities in Tom Jones (coming up next), but not here.

So what does the story have going for it?  Some nice turns of phrase, like the bit about hunger being better than a French chef, and surprisingly the portrait of the manipulative villainess/not-love-interest.  Lady Booby at least has a conflict and character arc, unlike the actual love interest, Fanny Goodwill, whom Irvin Ehrenpreis observes in his afterword, has "the main function in the plot...to be nearly raped."  Repeatedly.