The Tobias Smollett Library

In which the narrator becomes the centre of a lively and intricate set of affections among several gallant officers in the agreeable environs of Brussels and its neighbouring towns, all the while maintaining a firm, discerning hand over her suitors’ advances. Following an enforced return to England, she faces a severe and dismal captivity at the hands of her lord, whose rough and oppressive behavi...

In which a young lady, beset by melancholy and the complexities of broken ties and suitors, navigates the genteel society of Paris and England with a mixture of frankness and dignity, ultimately finding refuge in the company of an honourable lord. Her life is marked by trials of love, law, and health, all observed with a keen eye for the nuances of human affection and the delicate art of sustainin...

In which a lady finds herself entangled in the troublesome affections and jealousies of two rival suitors, navigating challenges of honour, fidelity, and societal expectations across England and France. She reflects with a measured eye on the complexities of love and companionship, seeking peace and autonomy amidst a theatre of passion and intrigue.

In which a lady recounts the sorrowful unraveling of a long-standing amour, marked by separation, miscommunication, and the heavy burden of unrequited passion that strains her familial bonds and social standing. Amidst heartfelt supplications and painful encounters, she endeavours to preserve a semblance of dignity and peace while navigating the treacherous currents of affection and despair.

In which a lady of spirited resolution recounts her vigilant efforts to conceal a delicate condition and maintain a secret liaison despite the persistent and intrusive pursuits of her lord, amidst the turmoil of legal and domestic strife. She finds solace in the company of a devoted lover and kind friends, yet faces continual hazards and trials that test her courage and affection through various i...

In which the amorous heroine recounts the passionate intricacies and tribulations of her romantic entanglements, marked by intense devotion, societal notice, and matrimonial discord. She narrates her retreat to Bath and Paris, her genteel masquerade amidst French society, and her eventual bold flight from an oppressive conjugal yoke, seeking solace and legal recourse in England.

In which the narrator recounts the dismal contrast between her indifferent new husband and the generous, ardent admirers who vie for her favour, particularly a skilful and patient suitor whose delicate pursuits gradually conquer her guarded heart. Amidst the turmoil of duty and passion, she navigates the perilous path of love and honour, grappling with jealousy, societal censure, and the faltering...

In which the tender and ebullient devotion of youthful love is portrayed with delicate sincerity, tracing the blissful joys and subsequent sorrows that befell a young lady entwined in the bonds of marriage and familial expectation. The narrative gently unfolds through scenes of affectionate reconciliation, social gaiety, and the harrowing vicissitudes of health and heartbreak, concluding with the...

In which a young lady, driven by the irresistible force of love, elopes with her chosen suitor in defiance of her father's wishes, encountering a series of comic and distressing obstacles that test her courage and discretion. Amidst the tender triumphs and social intrigues of newlywed life, she navigates the complexities of affection, jealousy, and reconciliation with a spirit both delicate and re...

In which a young lady of quality recounts her early life marked by innocence and vanity, her awakening to love amid the diversions of Bath and court, and the tender yet troubled affections that lead her into secret exchanges with a noble suitor. She reveals the earnestness of her passion, the opposition it encounters from her father, and her resolve to secure happiness despite paternal restraint.

In which the young and gallant Peregrine Pickle returns to London and, amidst the intrigues of high society and the mercurial favours of a duchess, finds himself both humbled and endeared through the unexpected acquaintance of a benevolent lady of quality. His benevolence towards a distressed widow and her children brings him into deeper connection with this lady, whose own tale of fortune and adv...

In which Peregrine, having subdued his fever and reflected upon his past follies, humbly seeks to atone for his injuries to the honourable Emilia by tendering a sincere proposal through her mother, only to meet with a firm and dignified refusal. Resolved to mend his ways and bolster the happiness of others, he thereafter visits his comrades at the garrison and arranges a fitting memorial for his l...

In which a young gentleman, driven to desperate lengths by passion and resentment, embarks upon a wearisome and fruitless pursuit of a masked lady, only to be cruelly deceived and undone by his own impetuosity and mistaken identity. His ardent designs culminate in a harrowing collapse that necessitates the urgent aid of a physician, marking a solemn pause in his misadventures.

In which a young gentleman, torn by conflicting passions of love and shame, attempts a reconciliation with his offended mistress by visiting her uncle’s household, only to be met with cold rebuff and firm barriers. Finding himself shunned and affronted, he departs in a tempest of indignation, left to wrestle with the bitterness of his rejection and the resolute pride of his defenders.

In which the hero persuades Emilia to attend a masquerade, where, under the influence of his cunningly administered stimulants, her gaiety and wit shine brightly, yet his treacherous intentions are resolutely repelled by her dignity and vigilance. The scene closes upon his disconsolate frenzy and subsequent recovery, as he contemplates the chastening effects of her spirited rebuke and the weight o...

In which our artful hero, by the finesse of dissembling contrition and carefully measured gallantry, gains admittance to his fair Emilia's company, cultivating her favour while prudently masking his deeper intentions. Amidst a display of polite affection and the embellishments of polite society, he strives to secure her heart through the subtle siege of compliments, tender protestations, and metic...

In which a young gentleman, newly arrived in London and flushed with vanity, sets up a splendid equipage and cultivates a reputation far exceeding his present fortune, while harbouring a fervent passion for a lady named Emilia. With artful modesty and well-practised gaiety, he ingratiates himself with her and her uncle, adopting the guise of a sensible merchant to win favour and gain access to the...

In which Peregrine arrives at the garrison to find his venerable uncle Commodore Trunnion near his earthly departure, receiving his final counsel and observing the solemn rites of his passing with a respectful heart. The young gentleman subsequently undertakes the duties of executor and guardian to the family estate, navigating delicate attempts at reconciliation amid the shifting tempers of his k...

In which Peregrine Pickle asserts his honour against a notorious gamester of formidable repute, thereby establishing a reputation that ripples through the social assemblages of Bath. He also encounters the singular and deaf misanthrope Cadwallader Crabtree, whose acerbic wit and peculiar demeanour provide both amusement and unexpected insight amidst the company’s varied discourse.

In which Peregrine Pickle befriends the curmudgeonly Mr. Crabtree, who unfolds a curious and turbulent life story marked by misadventures, imprisonment, and stratagems of survival across Europe. Their alliance promises to unveil the secret follies and intrigues of society, as they agree to share discoveries while maintaining a public facade of mutual contempt.

In which Godfrey, with artful cunning and a soldier's steadiness, engages a company of gamblers at Bath in a high-stakes game of billiards, leading to the ruin of a notorious band of sharpers by a combination of skill and stratagem. Peregrine, admiring his friend's triumph yet mindful of delicate honour, seeks to share the spoils but finds Godfrey resolutely proud in his independence, prompting a...

In which the two gallant companions quickly ascend the ranks of Bath’s society, provoking envy and scandal through their manifold intrigues with the ladies, whilst skilfully keeping their rivals at odds. In a merry stratagem of retribution, they devise and execute a cunning jest upon the assembled physicians, exposing their rivalries and pretensions to the amusement of the town.

In which our young adventurer, attending with dutiful affection upon his ailing uncle, resolves his family's affairs before setting out to London, where a cool reunion with his old friend Godfrey leads to renewed camaraderie and shared confidences. Upon their journey to the fashionable spa town of Bath, they encounter a melancholy gamester whose tale of a cunning company of adventurers, adept in v...

In which a young gentleman witnesses the felicitous marriage of his sister amidst family intrigues and proceeds to revisit a former beloved, only to encounter a changed and guarded demeanour that challenges his presumption and vanity. The narrative unfolds with genteel irony as characters navigate the delicate ceremonies and social encounters that both bind and estrange them within their modest sp...

In which Peregrine, returned to English shores flushed with youthful pride and anticipation, delivers letters of recommendation in London and is warmly welcomed back to the garrison, provoking lively celebrations among family and servants alike. Amidst convivial gatherings and uneasy family tensions, he learns of his sister’s suitor and the challenges she faces from her estranged mother, setting t...