Description
By: Francis Coventry (1725-1754 or 1759)
“The History of Pompey the Little” by Francis Coventry is a delightful and humorous satire that provides a fascinating glimpse into the eccentricities and scandals of 18th century English society. The protagonist, Pompey, navigates his way through various misadventures and social situations with wit and charm, making for an entertaining and engaging read. Coventry’s sharp wit and keen observations of human nature shine through in this clever and engaging novel, offering a witty commentary on the follies and foibles of the time. Overall, “The History of Pompey the Little” is a charming and witty satirical novel that is sure to entertain and amuse readers with its colorful characters and witty humor.
Book Description:
“Pompey, the son of Julio and Phyllis, was born A.D. 1735, at Bologna in Italy, a place famous for lap-dogs and sausages.” At an early age he was carried away from the boudoir of his Italian mistress by Hillario, an English gentleman illustrious for his gallantries, who brought him to London.
The rest of the history is really a chain of social episodes, each closed by the incident that Pompey becomes the property of some fresh person. In this way we find ourselves in a dozen successive scenes, each strongly contrasted with the others. It is the art of the author that he knows exactly how much to tell us without wearying our attention, and is able to make the transition to the next scene a plausible one.
