Henry Fielding
Henry Fielding (1707-54), British novelist. For some years he managed a theatre company, writing the plays himself. In 1740 he became a barrister but continued to write for and edit journals. His first novel was the burlesque Joseph Andrews (1742). His best-known work is the satirical comedy Torn Jones (1749), in which spirit and honesty are shown to be more important than conventional morals. Fielding sailed to Portugal for his health in 1754 but died soon after arriving.
