The Adventures of David Simple: Containing an Account of His Travels Through the Cities of London and Westminster, in the Search of a Real Friend ; And, The Adventures of David Simple, Volume the Last : in which His History is ConcludedUniversity Press of Kentucky, 1998 - 399 pages Sarah Fielding (1710-1768), the author of five novels, a children's story, an imaginative historical biography, a critical treatise on Clarissa, and a translation from the Greek of Xenophon, is among the most versatile and interesting eighteenth-century women writers. The Adventures of David Simple (1744), Fielding's first and most celebrated novel, went through many English editions -- including a second edition heavily revised by her brother Henry -- and was translated into German and French. The guileless hero, having been cheated by his hypocritical younger brother, sets out to find a "real friend". In recounting David's search, the novel depicts the derision with which almost everyone treats his sentimental attitudes to human nature. An important secondary character acts as a mouthpiece for some provocative feminist ideas. This edition makes the original text of the novel available for the first time since 1744. It also reproduces Fielding's much darker sequel, Volume the Last (1753), in which a string of disasters befalls David and his family. |
From inside the book
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... began to think I fancied things , which had no Exist- ence but in my own Brains . Thus barbarously she often took pains to pull me off the Rack , 88 only that she might have the pleasure when I was almost healed and well , to torture me ...
... began to indulge her with more agreeable Ideas . But , as if it had been impossible for her to enjoy one moment's Pleasure , no sooner had her Thoughts taken this turn , than she saw the Atheist , who softly , and unperceived by her ...
... began to make my late Afflic- tion subside . I had besides a Dawn of Comfort in the Company of my Brother , who , notwithstanding his Youth , and being a Frenchman , was of so so grave and philosophical a Temper , that he having now ...
Contents
Book I | 3 |
Substantive Variants between the First and Second Editions | 350 |
Emendations | 367 |
Copyright | |
Other editions - View all
The Adventures of David Simple: Containing an Account of His Travels Through ... Sarah Fielding No preview available - 2018 |