Jonathan Wild - Henry Fielding

Fielding's satirical intent is to show the contrast between those who are humbly good and those whose wickedness leads them to being labelled GREAT. His vehicle is the rollicking tale of the rise and fall of our eponymous anti-hero, a compelling character who is swaggering, charismatic and utterly without scruple. The narrator feigns admiration for him and disparages the noble Heartfree for such "vices" as modesty and altruism.

As is always the way the good character is pretty forgettable, but Wild himself is tremendous fun and his adventures, both sexual and criminal, are highly entertaining.