The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews and of His Friend Mr. Abraham Adams

Adams’s son Dick reads a story about two friends, Lennard and Paul. The two men are reunited after several years of separation, and Paul visits Lennard, who is now married. The couple constantly argues, and Paul separately advises the husband and wife that whichever party most strongly believes themselves to be in the right should be the one to submit. The couple finally realizes that Paul has secretly been siding with each of them, and they become united in their anger toward him. The reading abruptly ends when Joseph sees Beau touching Fanny inappropriately.

Joseph immediately punches Beau for his forwardness with Fanny, and Fanny faints. Mr. Booby and Pamela take this opportunity to convince Joseph and Fanny that their marriage is not a good match. Adams responds with loyalty to Joseph, and Joseph responds by leaving with Fanny. Adams’s family discusses their differing opinions on Fanny. The women of the family dislike her, but the men of the family, namely Dick and Adams, defend her. Joseph and Fanny then return to the house with the peddler in tow; they invite everyone to a pub for dinner.

At the pub the peddler reveals that he knows who Fanny’s parents are. During his time in the Irish army, he married a woman who on her deathbed confessed that she used to be a part of a company of gypsies. While traveling with them, she kidnapped a little girl of indescribable beauty and sold her to Sir Thomas Booby. The parents from which Fanny was kidnapped are none other than Mr. and Mrs. Andrews, Joseph’s parents. The company is shocked to hear that Joseph and Fanny are brother and sister.

Lady Booby and Mrs. Slipslop discuss Joseph and his many virtues. Lady Booby is torn; marrying Joseph would bring her happiness but would simultaneously ostracize her from society. She decides she cannot sacrifice her reputation and social rank to satisfy her attraction to him. A messenger comes in bearing the news that Fanny and Joseph are brother and sister. With Fanny now seemingly out of the way, Lady Booby’s decision to stop pursuing Joseph is immediately overturned. Unsure about the veracity of the peddler’s story, the group plans to ask Mr. and Mrs. Andrews, who are expected to arrive the next day, for corroboration. Since it’s stormy, the entire group stays the night at Lady Booby’s house.

During the night, Beau Didapper sneaks into what he thinks is Fanny’s room and climbs into bed with her, only to realize he is in bed with Mrs. Slipslop. Mrs. Slipslop cries out for help, and Adams comes to her aid. In the dark Adams mistakenly rescues Beau and attacks Mrs. Slipslop. The lights come on as Lady Booby walks in, summoned by the commotion, and Adams realizes his mistake. At first Lady Booby believes the naked Adams has attempted to rape Mrs. Slipslop, until she spots a lace shirt and diamond button on the floor, which belong to Beau. The commotion dies down, and Adams returns to what he thinks is his own room. However, he makes a wrong turn and ends up crawling into bed with Fanny. Joseph enters Fanny’s room in the morning and finds the two in bed together, at which moment both Fanny and Adams wake up confused as to how they ended up in this predicament. Joseph realizes that Adams mistook Fanny’s room for his own; Adams feels that witchcraft is the only explanation for the night’s confusion.

Mr. and Mrs. Andrews arrive. Mr. Andrews asserts that Joseph and Pamela are his only children. However, Mrs. Adams runs to hug Fanny and explains that she is truly their daughter. Mr. Andrews had left to serve as a sergeant while Mrs. Andrews was pregnant. When her daughter was only about a year old, the band of gypsies came to her house, took her daughter, and replaced her with a baby boy. Mrs. Adams decided to accept the child providence gave her; she loved and raised the boy as her own, and named him Joseph. When Mr. Adams returned home after several years, he thought Joseph was the child born while he was away, and Mrs. Adams kept his identity a secret. The peddler, who has been listening to the story, asks Joseph if he has a mark on his chest. Joseph replies in the affirmative and shows the group his small strawberry mark. The peddler tells Joseph that his father is none other than Mr. Wilson, their gracious host during their travels. By coincidence, Mr. Wilson is passing through the parish that very day, as he told Adams he would. Just at that moment he arrives at Lady Booby’s house. Father and son are reunited with much joy.

Fanny is welcomed into the Andrews family as well as the Booby family, by extension through Pamela’s marriage. Joseph and Fanny proceed with their wedding, performed by Adams, and “enjoy the private rewards of their constancy” (237). Mr. Booby grants Fanny a fortune as well as a job managing his dairy; he gives Adams a living as well. Even the peddler is exalted to the job of exciseman by Mr. Booby’s influence and generosity. Lady Booby returns to London, where she quickly forgets her love for Joseph after meeting a “young captain at dragoons” (237) and playing cards at parties. Joseph and Fanny prepare to have a child and live together in perfect happiness.