The Tobias Smollett Library

In which the young and hopeful Peregrine Pickle, after securing a reluctant audience with a minister, experiences fleeting favour and renewed ambition through a pension, only to be soon plunged into despair upon the sudden death of his patron and the shocking discovery that his fortune has been deceitfully lost. Amidst sorrow and resentment, he resolves to seek justice through the law and confides...

In which the youthful Peregrine, struck by pecuniary ills, resolves to employ his literary talents and soon finds himself inducted into a motley College of Authors, a society marked not only by mutual support but by fiery rivalry and boisterous disputes. The assembly, conducted amidst quips, quarrels, and broken wigs, offers our hero both mirth and insight into the theatrical world, concluding wit...

In which Peregrine Pickle wrestles with the vexations of misplaced trust and the intricacies of friendship, employing a clever stratagem to chastise a misanthrope whose philosophy proves insufficient to soothe the pangs of financial perplexity. Meanwhile, he diligently pursues the favour of powerful patrons, uncovering the fragile nature of courtly alliances and the perils attendant upon reliance...

In which our young gentleman, constrained by the narrow circumstances of slender annuities and modest company, finds solace and a modest esteem among a peculiar society of second-hand politicians, minor critics, and witty bachelors, whose indolent yet agreeable habits abide without pressing inquiry. Yet amid convivial discourse and occasional flashes of his superior wit, he contends with the uneas...

In which our young adventurer, moved by a spirit both generous and enterprising, interposes to secure a considerable loan by his own surety, and embarks upon the fiery theatre of electoral contest with ambitions high and purse well lined. Yet, amidst fêtes, stratagems, and bitter disappointments, his hopes are dashed by political intrigue, culminating in a violent encounter and a forced retreat to...

In which our young adventurer, embittered by political disappointment and the diminishing of his once ample fortune, attends ministerial levees with a heavy heart and sullen demeanor, reflecting deeply on the uncertainties of human affairs and past follies. By chance, he encounters the kind Mrs Gauntlet, whose gentle friendship and the innocent affection of a christened child stir in him a minglin...

In which our adventurer, recovering from past entanglements, is visited by the impoverished painter Pallet and drawn into a lottery for a whimsical portrait, before being invited by a nobleman to partake in the lively and intoxicating world of horse-racing at Newmarket. Amidst the gambles and follies of the turf, he experiences both loss and triumph, his spirits buoyed by society’s festivities and...

In which Peregrine Pickle finds himself under the cautious protection of a noble patron, who advises him to reform his extravagant habits and invest his fortune prudently, promising support for a parliamentary seat that might secure his future. Embracing this counsel with zeal, Pickle undertakes a thorough retrenchment of his expenses and discreetly continues his charitable acts, even as he encoun...

In which the fervent passions of Mr. Pickle and those about him are stirred by a grievous letter and a cunning stratagem that excites fears of a tragic event, only to reveal misunderstandings and suppressed affections. The ensuing confrontations and disclosures among friends and family lay bare wounds of pride and resentment, while tempering the flames of impatience with the sober light of uneasy...

In which Peregrine encounters a spirited young mendicant and undertakes the ambitious project of transforming her into a refined lady, navigating the challenges of her rustic habits and introducing her into polite society with mixed success. His valet’s unexpected marriage to the transformed damsel brings a surprising closure to this enterprise, prompting both forgiveness and generosity from our h...

In which Peregrine attends to the final wishes of his ailing aunt and navigates the delicate tensions within his family, while engaging in lighthearted rural diversions that showcase his spirited character. He is soon invited to a friend's nuptials, where a complex mixture of pride, resentment, and lingering affection stirs within him upon encountering familiar faces.

In which the restless heart of Peregrine Pickle endures a scene of masked passions and delicate affronts at a bridal ball, where pride and jealousy wage a subtle war behind courteous dances and whispered compliments. Amidst the company’s eyes and the tender intercessions of a gentle advocate, he wrestles with the torment of love scorned and the hope of reconciliation through a fervent letter of pe...

In which a conjurer and his confidant devise a cunning stratagem to confound sceptics who scorn their art, while Peregrine interposes himself in the affairs of a young nobleman, challenging dishonest card players and engaging in a heated contest of chance and wit. Their encounters unravel through scenes both fearful and fashionable, culminating in acts of generosity and the unexpected favour that...

In which the young and ambitious Peregrine cultivates a reputation as both a wit and a patron among the fashionable literati, delighting in the arts of repartee and patronage while delighting in the gentle chiding of pretension and folly. He amuses himself further by orchestrating a clever trick upon solicitors and gradually finds himself entangled in the riotous and costly excesses of high societ...

In which Peregrine, amid a circle of lively card-players and sceptics, embarks upon the curious pastime of fortune-telling, engaging a motley company of inquisitive ladies and irreverent gentlemen who test the bounds of credulity and decorum. The scene grows more tumultuous as licentious visitors break in upon the mystic’s séance, leading to a startling family reunion and a mother’s staunch admoni...

In which the conjurer Cadwallader navigates a motley assemblage of supplicants, each eager to glean future knowledge on matters from health and longevity to financial ventures, love, and theatrical fortune. His practice, honed through a mixture of cunning and observation, proves a repository for the follies and desires of mankind, providing wry glimpses into the capriciousness of fate and human na...

In which the delicate intricacies of a once tender amour unravel through revelations of infidelity and bitter reproach, leading to a reluctant union shadowed by caprice and disappointment. The narrative then reflects upon the vexations of a mismatched marriage, political folly, and the tender mercies bestowed upon devoted friends amidst the turbulence of courtly life.

In which a whimsical contrivance leads Cadwallader to impersonate a magician, enchanting a curious public with shrewd responses that blend artful intelligence and satirical insight. This charade soon attracts a variety of seekers, whose private follies and secrets illuminate the delicate follies and fashions of the town’s higher circles, all while our heroes plot their jocular mischief with measur...

In which the narrator recounts a harrowing journey through Flanders, enduring a perilous robbery yet maintaining composure, and subsequently navigates the complexities of credit and society in Paris amid dwindling resources. Amidst these trials, she cultivates friendships and encounters new admirers, finding solace and distraction in their company while reflecting on the fickleness of fortune and...

In which a tender and sincere passion grows between two congenial souls, whose mutual affection is tested by the petty machinations of a frivolous coquette, until jealousies prompt decisive resolutions to preserve the harmony of their love. The lady’s devoted journey from Paris to England, fraught with perils and stratagems, reveals the constancy and ardour of their attachment amidst whispered rum...

In which the narrator, pursued by an intractable lord, embarks on a harrowing flight through country lanes and uncertain refuges, enduring both baseness and benevolence in his search for sanctuary. He finds solace in the amiable company of a noble friend and the shelter of foreign shores, whilst contending with the vexatious efforts of his relentless adversary at home.

In which the narrator endures the capricious and jealous humours of her lord, seeking refuge amidst trials and reconciliations that both tax her spirit and health. She courageously resists his escalating tyranny, ultimately fleeing his house under cover of guise, thus preserving her dignity against his wild indiscretions.

In which the narrator recounts her trials with a lord whose intentions are veiled beneath a veneer of friendship and strained toleration, while she navigates legal battles, unwanted visits, and enforced domesticity with a mixture of wit and wary sagacity. Amidst the intrusion of false accusations and calculated counsels, she endeavours to preserve her dignity and peace, even as the shadows of jeal...

In which a lady, resolute and resourceful, orchestrates a daring escape from the oppressive vigilance of her lord, enduring a perilous journey across countries to seek refuge and protection under foreign sovereignty. She faces severe hardships and estrangement, yet maintains her dignity and spirit, finding solace and aid in the kindness of friends and the care of a skilful physician.

In which the lady narrator recounts her painful parting from Lord B— and the hidden affections of Mr. B—, whose unspoken passion and subsequent sorrow reveal the complexity of her relationships and fidelity. Her narrative unfolds amid the contrasting behaviour of her capricious husband, the rekindling of a former love at a masquerade, and her eventual departure to Flanders, where she seeks solace...