It is understandable that this picaresque travelog novel would have been popular with readers back in 1771, when this was first published. It intersperses a narrative about the doings of a family as they travel in England and Scotland with detailed descriptions of the various towns visited and with many topical references to prominent people and events of the time. The story is very cleverly told through letters written by the family members to friends back home, and Smollett does an excellent job of giving each writer a unique voice, personality,and vantage point. The actual plot elements are often extremely humorous in the typical British satiric manner, particularly the efforts of the 45-year-old maiden aunt to snare a husband.
But for a 21st Century reader, this book is a real slog. Sorry, but I think most would agree. Over half the novel would be understandable or of interest only to people of that time and place, leaving the story bits too far apart to keep a modern reader engaged. I can't tell you how many times I was tempted to stop reading.
I would recommend this book only to those who have an academic interest in 18th Century English literature.
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