A tale of adventure and romance, it is written with great humor and panache. The memorable scenes on board ship which provide an invaluable picture of the British sailor of the day, are drawn from Smollett's personal experience as a surgeon's mate in the navy.
Roderick is the boisterous and unprincipled hero who answers life's many misfortunes with a sledgehammer. Left penniless by his grandfather, a judge, he leaves his native Scotland for London. On the way he meets an old schoolfellow, Strap, who accompanies him on his journey. Together they undergo many adventures at the hands of rogues. While in London Roderick qualifies as a surgeon's mate. He is pressed as a common sailor on board the man-of-war
Thunder,
and after much misery and ill-treatment returns to England. Here he falls in love with the ravishing Narcissa...