The Vicar of Wakefield (Dover Thrift Editions) - Softcover

Oliver Goldsmith

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0486434109 ISBN 13: 9780486434100

Publisher: Dover, 2004

Synopsis

Rich with wisdom and gentle irony, Oliver Goldsmith's only novel is a charming comedy that tells of an unworldly and generous vicar who loves contentedly with his large family until disaster strikes. When his idyllic life is brutally interrupted by bankruptcy and his daughter's abduction, he lands in prison. Yet these misfortunes fail to dampen the vicar's spirit or cause him to lose sight of Christian morality.
A delightful lampoon of such literary conventions of the day as pastoral scenes, artificial romance, and the hero's stoic bravery, The Vicar of Wakefield has remained a classic since it was first published in 1766.

About this title

About the Author:

Oliver Goldsmith is Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Alaska.

Review:

Novel by Oliver Goldsmith, published in two volumes in 1766. The story, a portrait of village life, is narrated by Dr. Primrose, the title character, whose family endures many trials--including the loss of most of their money, the seduction of one daughter, the destruction of their home by fire, and the vicar's incarceration--before all is put right in the end. The novel's idealization of rural life, sentimental moralizing, and melodramatic incidents are countered by a sharp but good-natured irony. -- The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature

About this edition

• Publisher: Dover
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0486434109
• ISBN 13: 9780486434100
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 144