Cover of The History of the Life of the Late Mr. Jonathan Wild the Great

The History of the Life of the Late Mr. Jonathan Wild the Great

by Henry Fielding

Reading level
Fairly demanding
Price
Free

About the book

"The History of the Life of the Late Mr. Jonathan Wild the Great" by Henry Fielding is a satirical novel published in 1743. It tells the story of Jonathan Wild, a notorious London underworld boss who worked as a thief-taker while secretly managing a criminal network. Fielding uses Wild's life to satirize English society and political corruption, particularly targeting Prime Minister Robert Walpole. The novel blends criminal biography with romance and social commentary in a darkly ironic portrait of "greatness."

  • Biographical fiction
  • London (England)
  • Criminals
  • Wild, Jonathan, 1682?-1725
  • Organized crime

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #5256. The History of the Life of the Late Mr. Jonathan Wild the Great on Wikipedia.

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