Description:
The History and Adventures of an Atom is a novel by Tobias Smollett, first published in 1769. The novel savagely satirises English politics during the Seven Years' War.It appears under the guise of a tale from ancient Japan. William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham appears as Taycho, and other politicians, monarchs and nations under a light disguise of made-up names. It includes some comments on the Kingdom of Great Britain's growing problems with its American colonies.The 'atom' is the supposed narrator, a witness to the events and somehow able to communicate them to modern listeners. Smollett is referring back to the ancient Greek idea of atoms, the ideas of Democritus—though, of course, he is also being satirical.
The book was published anonymously in 1769. Smollett's authorship of the book has been disputed, but it is generally included and discussed among his works.[1][2] Writing in 1821, Sir Walter Scott wrote, "The chief purpose of the work (besides that of giving the author the… Read More