The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

The Expedition of Humphry Clinker
Author(s)	Tobias Smollett
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Genre(s)	Novel, Picaresque, Epistolary
Publisher	W. Johnson and B. Collins
Publication date	17 June 1771
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	375
ISBN	0192835947
OCLC Number	41152911

The Expedition of Humphry Clinker was the last of the picaresque novels of Tobias Smollett, and is considered by many to be his best and funniest work.^[1] Published in London on 17 June 1771, it is an epistolary novel, presented in the form of letters written by six different characters: Matthew Bramble, a Welsh Squire; his sister Tabitha; their niece and nephew, Jery and Lydia Melford; Tabitha's maid Winifred Jenkins; and Lydia's suitor, Wilson.

Much of the comedy arises from differences in the descriptions of the same events by different participants. Attributions of motives and descriptions of behaviour show wild variation and reveal much about the character of the teller. The setting, amidst the high-society spa towns and seaside resorts of the 18th century provides his characters with many opportunities for satirical observations on English life and manners.

The author's own travels in Scotland, France and Italy helped provide inspiration for the plot.

Plot summary

The titular character, Humphry Clinker, is an ostler, a stableman at an inn, who does not make his first appearance until about a quarter of the way through the story. He is taken on by Matthew Bramble and his family while they are travelling through England. Various adventures befall them, especially after their meeting with Lieutenant Lismahago, a Scotsman, who joins their party. After various romantic interludes, Humphry suffers false imprisonment but is rescued and returned to his sweetheart, the maid Winifred Jenkins. It is then discovered that Humphry is Mr. Bramble's illegitimate son from a relationship with a barmaid during his wilder university days.

References

1. ^ K. Simpson, 'Smollett, Tobias George (1721–1771)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford, 2004). Available online (paid subscription required)

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1907 edition of The Nuttall Encyclopædia.

External links

• The Expedition of Humphry Clinker at Project Gutenberg