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How many plays did Henry Fielding write?

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Henry Fielding, frontispiece to Fielding's Works (1st ed., 1762), engraving by James Basire after a drawing by William Hogarth — Henry Fielding Henry Fielding, frontispiece to Fielding's *Works* (1st ed., 1762), engraving by James Basire after a drawing by William Hogarth

Henry Fielding, a prominent English novelist and playwright, wrote approximately 25 plays during his career.1

His work as a playwright was primarily defined by his role as a satirist, often targeting political corruption and social absurdities. His career in the theater effectively concluded following the passage of the Licensing Act in 1737, which required all new plays to be approved by the lord chamberlain before they could be produced. Following this, Fielding transitioned into legal studies and journalism, eventually becoming recognized as a founder of the English novel.12