The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom — Complete by T. Smollett

Tobias Smollett’s The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom is a dark, satirical tale of villainy, deception, and moral corruption. First published in 1753, the novel follows the cunning and unscrupulous Ferdinand Fathom, a conman who manipulates, cheats, and betrays everyone in his path. Unlike the author’s more comedic works, this novel delves into the psychology of a true antihero, offering biting social commentary on greed, hypocrisy, and human weakness. Gripping and provocative, it remains one of the earliest English novels to explore the mind of a criminal with such depth and sophistication.