Today marks the anniversary of the death of Henry Fielding, author of the wonderfully named Silksoundbooks audio book The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews and his Friend Mr Abraham Adams.

Fielding was an English novelist and dramatist, famous for his rich earthy humour and infamous for his satirical works. So much so, that his writings are thought by many to have contributed to the passing of the Theatrical Licensing Act of 1737 which brought in strict censorship to the British stage.

Fielding never stopped writing political satire and he took to writing novels. Published in 1742 Joseph Andrews is an accomplished work that is considered to mark his debut as a serious novelist.

Aside from his literary achievements, he has a significant place in the history of law-enforcement, having founded (with his half-brother John) what some have called London's first police force, The Bow Street Runners.

The Silksoundbooks unabridged audio book of The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews and his Friend Mr Abraham Adams is a wonderful tale, read by the hugely popular English actor Rufus Sewell.