Roderick Random

A tale of adventure and romance, it is written with great humor and panache. The memorable scenes on board ship which provide an invaluable picture of the British sailor of the day, are drawn from Smollett's personal experience as a surgeon's mate in the navy.

Roderick is the boisterous and unprincipled hero who answers life's many misfortunes with a sledgehammer. Left penniless by his grandfather, a judge, he leaves his native Scotland for London. On the way he meets an old schoolfellow, S...