Joseph Andrews is in part a parody of Samuel Richardson's Pamela. But whereas Richardson's novel is marked by the virtues of female chastity and the triumph of steadfast morality, Fielding's Joseph Andrews is peopled with lascivious women, thieves, hypocrites, and general fools. As we follow the characters in their travels, what unfolds is a lively panoramic satire of mid-Georgian England. Originally the novel's full title was The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews, and of his Friend Mr. Abraham Adams. Written in Imitation of Cervantes, Author of Don Quixote. Cervantes' main influence is evident in Fielding's use of the picaresque, a narrative style that follows a character through his or her travels to relate the humourous and episodic adventures that are encountered. As Fielding's full title suggests, Joseph's companion on his travels is Parson Adams, an absurd character bent on publishing his sermons. In part because of its humour, Joseph Andrews has been a popular text for first-year courses, and Scanlon has normalized the capitals and italics to make it more accessible to first-year students.