Posted by
James on July 11, 2010 at 6:36am
Henry Fielding’s most renowned work is unquestionably ‘The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling’, which was published in 1749.
The story tells of a gentleman named Allworthy who has a large fortune and is a healthy and decent man. One night he steps into bed and finds to his surprise an infant wrapped in linen between his sheets and with the help of his beloved sister Bridget sorts out the boy’s future. A maidservant, Jenny Jones, has said that it is her child and the boy is given the name Tom Jones. Bridget marries a Captain Brifil and they agree at Allworthy’s request to bring up the child.
After troubled years, Tom grows to a young man but seems doomed to be hanged since he has already been convicted various offences. His weaknesses are his spirit of animal instinct and his lusty nature, though he is also cursed with ill luck. Tom falls in love with the daughter of Western, an ignorant and unpleasant individual. The boy’s life is made more difficult still by his enemies Thwackum and Square, and he ends up a wanderer.
The story centres upon these wandering times, and follows him as he ends up seduced by his own mother although it turns out that his true mother was another woman entirely. Such are the tribulations faced by our eponymous hero.
"The World's Great Novels was a radio series, directed by Homer Heck, which presented adaptations of classic novels. Broadcast on WMAQ, Chicago, and NBC from 1944 to 1948, it was initially heard Saturdays at 7pm during the first 1944-45 season and then moved to Fridays at 11:30pm. Music for the series was composed by Emil Soderstrom and conducted by Bernard Berquist.
The Chicago-based programs were a production of The NBC University of the Air. Through agreements with the University of Louisville, the University of Tulsa and Washington State College, listeners could receive college credit through accredited, radio-assisted literature correspondence courses. A study guide, The Handbook of the World's Great Novels, was available for 25 cents.
The series began October 28, 1944 with Henry Fielding's Tom Jones."
NBC_University_Theater_490213_027_Tom_Jones.mp3
Replies
Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4 over 6 weeks 06.12.81 - 10.01.82
Tom Jones - Anton Lesser
Sophia Western - Catherine Holbury
Squire Western - Peter Jefferies
Squire Allworthy - Clifford Rose
The Author - Martin Jarvis
Adapted for radio by Hallam Tennyson (great-grandson of Alfred, Lord Tennyson)
Episode 1 - Gentleman, Foundling And Bastard
Tom Jones discovers himself to be illegitimate and is adopted by Squire Allworthy.
Episode 2 - A Touch Of The Seagrims
Will Tom win the one true love of his heart?
Episode 3 - Cold Buttock And Carrots
Tom's offer of cold buttock proves too much to resist for one lady.
Episode 4 - Masques And Milestones
Tom and Partridge encounter generous gypsies and hopeless highwaymen.
Episode 5 - A Right Honourable Rape
Lady Bellaston's hold over Tom is broken - but will she let him go so easily? Or will she foster revenge?
Will Lady Belliston outweigh Sophia in Tom's affections?
Episode 6 - The Happy Bitches
Will Tom and Sophia be united at last?
Alas, I am still looking for this one.