(1707–54)
an English writer. In the 1730s he wrote political plays that made fun of the government, until the government became more strict about censoring (= removing or changing offensive parts in) plays. He then began writing novels. His most famous work, Tom Jones , has a long and complicated story and presents a strong, clear picture of English society at the time. It had an important influence on the development of the English novel. Fielding became a Justice of the Peace in 1748 and was responsible for forming the Bow Street Runners.