Humphry Clinker: An Authoritative Text Contemporary Responses Criticism

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Summary: A wonderfully gossipy, humourous novel!
Review: Smollett has written a number of good stories, but this is probably his most complex of all that he's written. The book provides the reader with a hero that is memorable. Smollett provides just the right touch of madness and humour in his hero to make this a very warm, readable story. The format for this novel is letters which makes for an interesting change, and provides a unique way of developing characters. So much of a person's individuality can be found in letters and in fact, letters are a major source of historical information. But in these letters we learn all we need to know about Humphrey Clinker and his England. An unclean and brutal world it was with death, disease and decay. But there was unbelievable love and warmth too. What a journey!

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Summary: My favorite book ever..and I'm not kidding.
Review: This is a book that I was obligated to purchase for an 18th century lit class. We never got to it on the syllabus, so it collected dust. When I did finally pick it up I couldn't put it down. I laughed out loud frequently. I am amazed at how well it's 18th century humor has stood the test of time. You must commit past the first 50 or so pages to get into the rhythm and style. Then you'll be hooked. Lest you think that this is just a book for English majors with a bent towards the 18th century, I should point out that my other two favorite books are Lonesome Dove and Cryptonomicon.