Henry Fielding

Henry Fielding (1707–1754) was an English novelist and dramatist, widely regarded as a founder of the English comic novel. He first gained prominence writing satirical plays for the London stage. After the Licensing Act of 1737 curtailed theatrical satire, he turned increasingly to prose fiction. His major novels include *Joseph Andrews* (1742), which began as a parody of Samuel Richardson’s *Pamela*, and *The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling* (1749), celebrated for its intricate plotting and narrative voice. Fielding also worked as a magistrate in London and helped establish the Bow Street Runners, an early professional police force.