The Expedition of Humphry Clinker by T. Smollett

(15 User reviews)   4713
By Jacob Brown Posted on Jan 3, 2026
In Category - Time Travel
Smollett, T. (Tobias), 1721-1771 Smollett, T. (Tobias), 1721-1771
English
Ever wish you could read someone else's mail? This book is exactly that! 'The Expedition of Humphry Clinker' is a hilarious, chaotic road trip through 18th-century Britain, told entirely through letters. The Bramble family—a grumpy uncle, his fussy sister, a romance-obsessed niece, and a dopey nephew—set off on a tour for their health. They pick up a ragged, pious servant named Humphry Clinker along the way, and the trip quickly spirals into a series of misadventures, mistaken identities, and social disasters. It's less about where they're going and all about the messy, funny, and surprisingly heartwarming journey. If you love character-driven comedy and a peek into the past that feels totally alive, this is your next read.
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names; but don’t choose it--The taste of the town is so changeable. Then there have been so many letters upon travels lately published--What between Smollett’s, Sharp’s, Derrick’s, Thicknesse’s, Baltimore’s, and Baretti’s, together with Shandy’s Sentimental Travels, the public seems to be cloyed with that kind of entertainment--Nevertheless, I will, if you please, run the risque of printing and publishing, and you shall have half the profits of the impression--You need not take the trouble to bring up your sermons on my account--No body reads sermons but Methodists and Dissenters--Besides, for my own part, I am quite a stranger to that sort of reading; and the two persons, whose judgment I depended upon in those matters, are out of the way; one is gone abroad, carpenter of a man of war; and the other, has been silly enough to abscond, in order to avoid a prosecution for blasphemy--I’m a great loser by his going off--He has left a manual of devotion half finished on my hands, after having received money for the whole copy--He was the soundest divine, and had the most orthodox pen of all my people; and I never knew his judgment fail, but in flying from his bread and butter on this occasion. By owning you was not put in bodily fear by Lismahago, you preclude yourself from the benefit of a good plea, over and above the advantage of binding him over. In the late war, I inserted in my evening paper, a paragraph that came by the post, reflecting upon the behaviour of a certain regiment in battle. An officer of said regiment came to my shop, and, in the presence of my wife and journeyman, threatened to cut off my ears--As I exhibited marks of bodily fear more ways than one, to the conviction of the byestanders, I bound him over; my action lay, and I recovered. As for flagellation, you have nothing to fear, and nothing to hope, on that head--There has been but one printer flogged at the cart’s tail these thirty years; that was Charles Watson; and he assured me it was no more than a flea-bite. C-- S-- has been threatened several times by the House of L--; but it came to nothing. If an information should be moved for, and granted against you, as the editor of those Letters, I hope you will have honesty and wit enough to appear and take your trial--If you should be sentenced to the pillory, your fortune is made--As times go, that’s a sure step to honour and preferment. I shall think myself happy if I can lend you a lift; and am, very sincerely, Yours, HENRY DAVIS. LONDON, Aug. 10th. Please my kind service to your neighbour, my cousin Madoc--I have sent an Almanack and Court-kalendar, directed for him at Mr Sutton’s, bookseller, in Gloucester, carriage paid, which he will please to accept as a small token of my regard. My wife, who is very fond of toasted cheese, presents her compliments to him, and begs to know if there’s any of that kind, which he was so good as to send us last Christmas, to be sold in London. H. D. THE EXPEDITION OF HUMPHRY CLINKER To Dr LEWIS. DOCTOR, The pills are good for nothing--I might as well swallow snowballs to cool my reins--I have told you over and over how hard I am to move; and at this time of day, I ought to know something of my own constitution. Why will you be so positive? Prithee send me another prescription--I am as lame and as much tortured in all...

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Forget a straightforward plot; this book is a character study on the move. The story is told through the wildly different letters of the Bramble family and their friends as they travel from Wales to Scotland and back. You have Matthew Bramble, the wealthy but perpetually annoyed uncle who complains about everything from bad roads to modern manners. His sister Tabitha is a man-hunting hypochondriac, his nephew Jery is a witty observer, and his niece Lydia is a dreamy romantic. Their trip is one long series of mishaps—coach accidents, questionable spa waters, and awkward social encounters—all complicated by the mysterious and good-hearted servant they acquire, Humphry Clinker.

Why You Should Read It

This book is a joy because of the voices. Reading a single event described by Matthew (cranky), Jery (amused), and Lydia (dramatic) is brilliantly funny. Smollett doesn't just write characters; he unleashes them. The humor is sharp and often rude, poking fun at fashion, medicine, and class. But underneath the satire, there's a real warmth. You end up rooting for this oddball family and their strange new companion as they stumble toward unexpected connections and resolutions.

Final Verdict

Perfect for readers who love classic British humor (think a precursor to Dickens or Wodehouse) and don't mind a plot that meanders like a country road. If you enjoy rich, eccentric characters and social satire that still feels relevant, you'll have a blast. It's a bumpy, noisy, and utterly charming ride through another century.



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James Flores
2 weeks ago

If you enjoy this genre, it manages to explain difficult concepts in plain English. Don't hesitate to start reading.

Robert Hernandez
11 months ago

Simply put, the arguments are well-supported by credible references. Truly inspiring.

John Miller
6 months ago

I have to admit, the pacing is just right, keeping you engaged. This story will stay with me.

Barbara Torres
1 year ago

After finishing this book, it challenges the reader's perspective in an intellectual way. Exactly what I needed.

Charles Perez
6 months ago

Thanks for the recommendation.

4.5
4.5 out of 5 (15 User reviews )

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