Overview
One of the great comic novels in the English language, Tom Jones was an instant success when it was published in 1749: Ten thousand copies were sold in its first year. A foundling, Tom is discovered one evening by the benevolent Squire Allworthy and his sister Bridget and brought up as a son in their household until it is time for him to set out in search of both his fortune and his true identity. Amorous, high-spirited, and filled with what Fielding called "the glorious lust of doing good" but with a tendency toward dissolution, Tom Jones is one of the first characters in fiction to display legitimate sides of human virtue and vice. Now, Tom Jones has been brought to television in a magnificent new co-production from A&E Network and BBC television. Max Beesley stars as Tom, with Samantha Morton (who appeared in A&E's Emma and Jane Eyre) as Sophia. The cast also includes Benjamin Whitrow, Brian Blessed, Frances De La Tour, and John Sessions. Tom Jones is directed by Metin Huseyin, produced by Suzan Harrison, with a screenplay by Simon Burke.The comic history of a handsome youth who is adopted by the local Squire. 2 cassettes.
Synopsis
One of the great comic novels in the English language, Tom Jones was an instant success when it was published in 1749: Ten thousand copies were sold in its first year. A foundling, Tom is discovered one evening by the benevolent Squire Allworthy and his sister Bridget and brought up as a son in their household until it is time for him to set out in search of both his fortune and his true identity. Amorous, high-spirited, and filled with what Fielding called "the glorious lust of doing good" but with a tendency toward dissolution, Tom Jones is one of the first characters in fiction to display legitimate sides of human virtue and vice. Now, Tom Jones has been brought to television in a magnificent new co-production from A&E Network and BBC television. Max Beesley stars as Tom, with Samantha Morton (who appeared in A&E's Emma and Jane Eyre) as Sophia. The cast also includes Benjamin Whitrow, Brian Blessed, Frances De La Tour, and John Sessions. Tom Jones is directed by Metin Huseyin, produced by Suzan Harrison, with a screenplay by Simon Burke.
Audiofile
Winner of the Earphones Award. Second only to the language of Shakespeare, the English language of the eighteenth century possesses delightful sonorities, lusty vigor and incredible expressive powerqualities to which Fielding adds rich characterization, intriguing plot twists, delicious bawdiness and satiric humor. In an unaffected Midlands accent, John Sessions gives us a rich, virile, fully voiced interpretation that the author himself would chuckle through. So expressive is he that all the antiquated turns of phrase sound as contemporary as this morning. Moreover, he has fun with the text, giving his imagination full sway, especially in his delivery of dialogue, without ever letting it clash or overwhelm the material. Even this reviewer, who has read the book, seen the film, watch the recent TV serialization, and auditioned two other audiobook versions, found this abridgment fresh and delightful [brought to you by HighBridge Audio]. ( Oct/Nov. 1998 )