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The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

Tobias Smollett

Book Overview: 

The Expedition of Humphry Clinker was the last of the picaresque novels of Tobias Smollett, and is considered by many to be his best and funniest work.

It is an epistolary novel, presented in the form of letters written by six different characters: Matthew Bramble, a Welsh Squire; his sister Tabitha; their niece and nephew, Jery and Lydia Melford; Tabitha’s maid Winifred Jenkins; and Lydia’s suitor, Wilson.

Much of the comedy arises from differences in the descriptions of the same events by different participants. Attributions of motives and descriptions of behavior show wild variation and reveal much about the character of the teller. The setting, amidst the high-society spa towns and seaside resorts of the 18th century provides his characters with many opportunities for satirical observations on English life and manners. (Summary by Wikipedia)

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Book Excerpt: 
. . .French horns. He has treated with turtle and claret at all the taverns in Bath and Bristol, till his guests are gorged with good chear: he has bought a dozen suits of fine clothes, by the advice of the Master of the Ceremonies, under whose tuition he has entered himself. He has lost hundreds at billiards to sharpers, and taken one of the nymphs of Avon-street into keeping; but, finding all these channels insufficient to drain him of his current cash, his counsellor has engaged him to give a general tea-drinking to-morrow at Wiltshire's room. In order to give it the more eclat, every table is to be furnished with sweet-meats and nosegays; which, however, are not to be touched till notice is given by the ringing of a bell, and then the ladies may help themselves without restriction. This will be no bad way of trying the company's breeding.'

'I will abide by that experiment (cried my uncle) and . . . Read More

Community Reviews

How many novels have you read about an ostler?

Humphrey Clinker, hero of this daring fiction, was one; an ostler being a stableman at an inn.

For that matter, how many novels have you read that were published in 1771?

Given when it was published, count this as one amazingly creative work of fiction. H

A bit heavy on sentiment and silliness and rather too light on LOLs, but Smollett here captures the sights, sounds and smells of eighteenth century Britain beautifully, and for that his final novel earns a creditable four stars.

The Expedition of Humphry Clinker is an early epistolary novel, published in 1771. In a series of letters from a group of five people, gentry and one servant, it tells the tale of a journey undertaken around England over a period of months by a Welsh squire; his sister, niece, and nephew; and their

What a wonderful human spirit Smollett has. He exploits yet dearly loves the foibles of mankind and know how to make them both uproarious and genuinely reverential. The whole work is, in the end, a paean to friendship.

An 18th century epistolary novel, it presents a running series of letters, without

If you liked The Pickwick Papers you'll probably enjoy this too , since Charles Dickens first novel and bestseller made his career. The writer was a huge fan of Dr. Tobias Smollett when young and the influence is notable since having read both picaresque novels and enormously fond of each . ( The Ex

"The pills are good for nothing," fumes the heroic hypochondriac Bramble in one of your better opening sentences, and we're off on a picaresque tour of all the cliches of the 1700s and 1800s. Featuring such greatest hits as:

- Ridiculous coincidences!
- People who turn out to be of higher birth than t

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