The Adventures of Roderick Random, (Paperback)

Born into a good family but disowned by his cruel grandfather, a young man is thrust into the world with nothing but his wits and a hot temper. His journey to reclaim his standing is a whirlwind tour of 18th-century society, from the squalor of a naval warship on the disastrous expedition to Carthagena to the glittering but treacherous drawing rooms of London and Bath.

Along the way, he encounters a vivid cast of characters-loyal friends, scheming surgeons, cowardly officers, and shameless fortune hunters. He is robbed, imprisoned, and cheated, but also finds unexpected kindness and love.

This satirical tale follows the hero's tumultuous progress through a world rife with hypocrisy and vice, as he struggles against misfortune to secure his fortune and the hand of the woman he adores, learning hard lessons about human nature in the process.