Henry Fielding's first major novel, “The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews, and of His Friend Mr. Abraham Adams” (1742) centers upon the maturational, character-testing and ultimately identity-clarifying experiences of Joseph Andrews, a virtuous and handsome footman “in his one and twentieth year,” who, in Fielding's mystery-hinting words, “was esteemed to be the only Son of Gaffer and Gammer Andrews, and Brother to the illustrious Pamela [heroine of Richardson's very successful novel of 1740, Pamela or Virtue Rewarded] whose Virtue is at present so famous.” A parodic travesty involving reversals in the genders (or ”clothing”) of the protagonist and upper-class antagonist of …
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