The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, often known simply as Tom Jones, is a comic novel by the English playwright and novelist Henry Fielding (Sharpham, 22 April 1707 – near Lisbon, 8 October 1754). First published on 28 February 1749, Tom Jones is among the earliest English prose works describable as a novel.[1] The novel, totaling 346,747 words, is divided into 18 smaller books, each preceded by a discursive chapter, often on topics totally unrelated to the book itself.

1963 saw the release of Tom Jones, a film directed by Tony Richardson and starring Albert Finney as Tom. It was one of the most critically acclaimed and popular comedies of its time,[1] winning four Academy Awards. The book was also three times used as the basis for an opera, by François-André Philidor in 1765 (see Philidor's opera), by Edward German in 1907 (see German's opera), and by Stephen Oliver in 1975. A BBC adaptation was broadcast in 1997 with Max Beesley in the title role, dramatised by Simon Burke.