Book description
Matthew Bramble, a gout-ridden misanthrope, travels Britain with his
nephew, niece, spinster sister and man-servant, the trusty Humphry
Clinker. In poor health, Bramble sees the world as one of degeneracy
and raucous overcrowding, and will not hesitate to let his companions
know his feelings on the matter. Peopled with pimps, drunkards,
decadents and con-men, Humphrey Clinker displays Smollett s
ferociously pessimistic view of mankind, and his belief that the
luxury of eighteenth-century England existence was the enemy of sense
and sobriety. Presented in the form of letters from six very different
characters, and full of joyful puns and double entendres, Humphrey
Clinker is now recognised as a boisterous and observant
masterpiece of English satire.
Jeremy Lewis s introduction examines why Smollett has become an
unjustly neglected figure of English literature, and how the time in
which he lived became a crucible for his work. This new edition
contains notes, a chronology and suggested reading.
Tobias Smollett (1721-1771) was a Scottish physician and writer.
His novel Ferdinand Count Fathom [1753] is an early precursor
of and influence upon Gothic fiction.
Jeremy Lewis spent much of his life working in publishing. He is the
author of two highly-praised volumes of autobiography, Playing for
Time and Kindred Spirits, and of biographies of Cyril
Connolly and Tobias Smollett.
