18th century comic novel. According to Wikipedia: " According to Wikipedia: "Tobias George Smollett (bapt. 19 March 1721 - 17 September 1771) was a Scottish author, best known for his picaresque novels, such as The Adventures of Roderick Random (1748) and The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle (1753)." Smollett was one of David Copperfield''s (Charles Dickens'') favorite authors.