Tom Jones by Henry Fielding

Gentleman Allworthy, who lives with his unmarried sister Bridget Allworthy, arrives home and finds a baby boy on his bed. Allworthy decides to know the mother and father of this child, and finds local woman Jenny Jones and her tutor, Mr. Partridge, as his parents. Allworthy sends Jenny away from the county, and Partridge leaves the county. Allworthy decides to bring up the boy and named him Tom Jones. Soon after, Bridget marries Captain Blifil, and gives birth to a son, named Blifil. Captain Blifil does not like Tom Jones, since he wishes his son to inherit all of Allworthy possessions. Captain Blifil falls dead.

The novels moves 12 years forward. Blifil and Tom Jones have been brought up together, but receive different treatment from the others. Allworthy is the only person who shows love for Tom. The philosopher Square and the reverend Thwackum, the boys' tutors, hate Tom and adore Blifil. Tom steals apples and supports the family of Black George, one of Allworthy's servants. Tom tells all of his secrets to Blifil, who then tell these to Thwackum or Allworthy, thereby getting Tom into trouble. The people after hearing of Tom's generosity to Black George, begin to speak kindly of Tom. Tom spends much time with Squire Western who is Allworthy's neighbor. Sophia Western, Squire Western's daughter, falls in love with Tom. But Tom loves Molly Seagrim, the poor daughter of Black George. When Molly becomes pregnant, Tom prevents Allworthy from sending Molly to prison by admitting that he has fathered her child. Tom discovers that Molly has been having affairs with many other men which means Tom is not the father of her child and So Tom leaves Molly and expresses his Love for Sophia.
Allworthy falls ill and calls his family and friends to be near him. He reads out his will, which states that Blifil will inherit most of his estate, although Tom is also provided for. Thwackum and Square are upset that they are each promised only a thousand pounds. Tom experiences great emotion at Allworthy's illness and barely leaves his bedside. A lawyer named Dowling arrives and announces the sudden and unexpected death of Bridget Allworthy. When the doctor announces that Allworthy will not die, Tom rejoices.
Mrs. Western, the aunt with whom Sophia spent much of her youth, comes to stay at her brother's house. She and the Squire unite over Mrs. Western's plan to marry Sophia to Blifil. Mrs. Western promises not to reveal Sophia's love for Tom as long as Sophia submits to receiving Blifil as a suitor. Blifil thus begins his courtship of Sophia, and brags so much about his progress that Allworthy believes that Sophia must love Blifil. Sophia, however, opposes the proposal. Blifil tells Allworthy that Tom is a rascal who moves drunkenly about the house, and Allworthy banishes Tom from the county. Tom does not want to leave Sophia, but decides that he must leave honourably.
Tom begins to wander about the countryside. In Bristol, he happens to meet up with Partridge, who becomes his loyal servant. Tom also rescues a Mrs. Waters from being robbed, and they begin an affair at a local inn. Sophia, who has run away from Squire Western's estate to avoid marrying Blifil, stops at this inn and discovers that Tom is having an affair with Mrs. Waters. She leaves her muff in Tom's bed so that he knows she has been there. When Tom finds the muff, he sets out in pursuit of Sophia. The Irishman Fitzpatrick arrives at the inn searching for his wife, and Western arrives searching for Sophia.

On the way to London, Sophia rides with her cousin Harriet, who is also Fitzpatrick's wife. In London, Sophia stays with her lady relative Lady Bellaston. Tom and Partridge arrive in London soon after, and they stay in the house of Mrs. Miller and her daughters. Lady Bellaston and Tom begin an affair, although Tom privately, continues to pursue Sophia. When he and Sophia are reconciled, Tom breaks off the relationship with Lady Bellaston by sending her a marriage proposal that scares her away. Yet Lady Bellaston is still determined not to allow Sophia and Tom's love to grow. She encourages anoter young man, Lord Fellamar, to rape Sophia. Squire Western, Mrs. Western, Blifil, and Allworthy arrive in London, and Squire Western locks Sophia in her bedroom. Mr. Fitzpatrick thinks Tom is his wife's lover and begins to fight with Tom. In defending himself, Tom stabs Fitzpatrick with the sword and is thrown into jail. Partridge visits Tom in jail with the news that Mrs. Waters is Jenny Jones, Tom's mother. Mrs. Waters meets with Allworthy and explains that Fitzpatrick is still alive, and has admitted to start the fight.
Mrs. Waters reveals that Tom's mother was Bridget Allworthy. Square sends Allworthy a letter explaining that Tom's conduct during Allworthy's illness was honorable. Tom is released from jail and he and Allworthy are reunited as nephew and uncle. Mrs. Miller explains to Sophia the reasons for Tom's marriage proposal to Lady Bellaston, and Sophia is satisfied. Now that Tom is Allworthy's heir, Squire Western encourages the marriage between Tom and Sophia. Sophia agrees to marry Tom. They live happily with two children, and Tom forgives Blifil.