Henry Fielding (1707-54) began his writing career as a playwright and before the age of 30 produced a great number of comedies, farces and burlesques. His wit was already apparent, and his admirers included Swift who particularly enjoyed his "Tom Thumb". His "Pasquin, A Dramatick Satire on the Times" was in part responsible for the ensuing restrictive censorship of plays with the Licensing Act of 1737. Fielding practised at law, wrote essays and poems, ran a few journals - but remains most famous for his novels. He began "Joseph Andrews" as a parody of the sentimentalism of Richardson's "Pamela", and quickly developed his humourous and satirical style in "Tom Jones", "Jonathan Wild" and "Amelia". Admired by writers and readers alike, Fielding is one of the true founders of the English novel whose influence can be traced into the 19th century and the works of Dickens and Thackeray. This boxed collection of ten volumes includes all his work and a biographical essay.