Published in 1748, The Adventures of Roderick Random was Tobias Smollett’s debut novel and an immediate success — a vigorous picaresque following the fortunes of a hot-tempered young Scotsman as he endures poverty, naval press-gangs, war, love, and social humiliation before finding his footing in the world. Smollett drew heavily on his own experiences as a naval surgeon.
The novel is notable for its vivid, sometimes shocking depictions of life at sea and its satirical portraits of Georgian society. Download this free EPUB from Better Gutenberg for the complete text of this foundational work of British fiction.