...story."70 Johnson never tired of praising Richardson by belittling Fielding. Boswell quoted him as saying, "Sir, there is more knowledge of the heart in one letter of Richardson's than in all Tom Jones."71 He admitted that "if you were to read Richardson for the story, your impatience would be...

...story."70 Johnson never tired of praising Richardson by belittling Fielding. Boswell quoted him as saying, "Sir, there is more knowledge of the heart in one letter of Richardson's than in all Tom Jones."71 He admitted that "if you were to read Richardson for the story, your impatience would be...

...superficial observer than characters of nature, where a man must dive into the recesses of the mind. There is more knowledge of the heart in one letter of Richardson's than in all " Tom Jones." ' Johnson, from the violence of his hatred to Fielding, is no authority upon his works. He called him...

...that he draws very natural pictures of human life? ' JOHNSON. 'Why, Sir, it is of very low life. . . Sir, there is more knowledge of the heart in one letter of Richardson's than in all "Tom Jones.'"1 The Green Knight is wonderful (since all life is wonderful) but hopelessly insufficient,...

...elsewhere in defending Richardson, Johnson primarily admired the novelist for his 'knowledge of the heart': 'Sir, there is more knowledge of the heart in one letter of Richardson's, than in all "Tom Jones"'.''3 Similarly, in his introductory note to Richardson's contribution to The Rambler (No. 97,...

...natural pictures of human life?' JOHNSON. 'Why, Sir, it is of very low life. Richardson used to say, that had he not known who Fielding was, he should have..."Tom Jones." I, indeed, never read "Joseph Andrews.'" 121 Fielding, however, was in good company. Shakespeare draws similar censure, as Johnson perceives...

...merely describes the face of a clock, whereas Richardson explores and explains its inner workings: "There is more knowledge of the heart in one letter of Richardson's, than in all Tom Jones" This vision of Richardson as a great moralist and psychologist was shared, surprisingly, by some of...

...being admitted into better company'; Johnson repeating a version of this )'Richardson used to say, that had he not known who Fielding was, he should have believed he was an ostler'); the Earl of Eglintoune expressing regret, as reported by Boswell, 'that Johnson had not been educated...

...recovery. I dare say Fielding is a robust, strong man." Johnson recorded that "Richardson used to say, that had he not known who Fielding was, he should have believed he was an ostler." Sterne was most playful with these possibilities. As the Rev. Laurence Sterne he delivered the same...

...one with the temerity to call Fielding a "blockhead," in the very interchange in which he insists, "Sir, there is more knowledge of the heart in one letter of Richardson's than in all Tom Jones." But the student of American letters must come to terms with the earliest American reactions to the...