Roderick Random

by Tobias Smollett, David Blewett (Editor)

Roderick is combative, often violent, but capable of great affection and generosity. His father had been disinherited and has left Scotland leaving his son penniless. After a brief apprenticeship to a surgeon, the innocent Roderick travels to London where he encounters various rogues.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, 18th Century, Literature, British Literature, Adventure, Humor

476 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1748

About the author

Tobias George Smollett was born in Dalquhurn, now part of Renton, Scotland, to a prosperous family and educated at the University of Glasgow, where he studied to be a physician. Later he joined the British Royal Navy as a surgeon's mate. He was present at the disastrous battle against the Spanish at Cartagena in 1741.

He married a British woman named Anne " Nancy" Lascelles, in Jamaica, 1747,and settled in England. In London, as a writer, he became successful. The Adventures of Roderick Random (1748), a picaresque novel - like most of his books - made him a well known author. It was followed by The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle in 1751. But the failure of The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom (1753) caused financial difficulties for him. Publishing The Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves (1762) didn't help.

Writing poems, plays, travel and history books, essays, satires, doing translations and even becoming a literary critic and magazine editor, Dr. Smollett struggled all his short life against poverty, he traveled to Italy, to regain his health, but died of tuberculosis near Livorno, in 1771. Ironically finishing his masterpiece, The Expedition of Humphry Clinker, a few months before his death.

Charles Dickens was a great admirer of Tobias Smollett, even visiting his grave site.

Reviews

[Krodì80 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Realismo picaresco posticcio

Romanzo (a tratti) godibile e datato in cui al protagonista Roderick accadono tutte le sfighe di questo mondo; prima con una situazione familiare da telefono azzurro, poi testa calda, sempre in bolletta e dall'ormone galoppante, l'impavido scozzese viene bersagliato da ingiustizie invidie e battutacce che lo costringono di continuo a sfidare a duello qualsiasi debosciato o il malcapitato di turno. Dopo innumerevoli peripezie e perigliose attraversate degli oceani, tutti i torti subiti troveranno una giustizia terrena impeccabile, i debiti saranno saldati e il suo valore riconosciuto: il giovane Random saprà dispensare anche generosità e perdono, coronando al contempo i suoi sogni d'amore. Smollett, autore ammirato da Orwell e Dickens, non è riuscito pienamente a superare la prova del tempo; cura editoriale e traduzione da brividi gli hanno pure inflitto il colpo di grazia.