Other editions of book The Vicar of Wakefield by Dr Goldsmith

Oliver Goldsmith's 18th century novel "The Vicar of Wakefield" was so popular in Victorian times that it is mentioned in many classics of that era including George Eliot's "Middlemarch," Jane Austen's "Emma," Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities" and Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein", amongst others. It is the story of Dr. Charles Primrose, the titular Vicar, his wife Deborah and their six children who live an idyllic life in a country parish. The Vicar who is wealthy due to investing an inheritance loses all his money when the merchant investor with which he is invested goes bankrupt and skips town with Dr. Primrose's money. This unfortunate event occurs on the eve of his son George's wedding to the wealthy Arabella Wilmot, causing the wedding to be called off by the Father of the Bride. "The Vicar of Wakefield" is often described as a sentimental novel, which displays the belief in the innate goodness of human beings. But it can also be read as a satire on the sentimental novel and its values.

The Vicar of Wakefield, subtitled, ‘A Tale Supposed to be written by Himself’ – is a novel by Irish writer Oliver Goldsmith (1728 – 1774). It was one of the most popular and widely read eighteenth century novels, displaying the author’s belief in the innate goodness of human beings. ‘The Vicar of Wakefield’ can also be read however, as a satire on the sentimental novel and its values, as the vicar’s values are apparently not compatible with the real ‘sinful’ world. Whichever interpretation the reader takes, it is a story to be appreciated by both young and old alike – loved and cited by writers as talented and diverse as Charles Dickens, Mary Shelley, Charlotte Brontë and Goethe.The book further contains a series of dazzling colour and black-and-white illustrations – by a master of the craft; Arthur Rackham (1867 – 1939). One of the most celebrated painters of the British Golden Age of Illustration (which encompassed the years from 1850 until the start of the First World War), Rackham’s artistry is quite simply, unparalleled. Throughout his career, he developed a unique style, combining haunting humour with dream-like romance. Presented alongside the text, his illustrations further refine and elucidate Oliver Goldsmith’s enthralling storytelling.

Pook Press celebrates the great Golden Age of Illustration in children's literature. Many of the earliest children's books, particularly those dating back to the 1850s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Pook Press are working to republish these classic works in affordable, high quality, colour editions, using the original text and artwork so these works can delight another generation of children. Arthur Rackham (1867-1939) was one of the premier illustrators of the early 20th Century. He illustrated many books, the first of which was published in 1893. Throughout his career he had developed a very individual style that is was to influence a whole generation of children, artists and other illustrators. His haunting humour and dreamlike romance adds to the enchantment and fantasy of children's literature.

The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration and rapidly growing technology and expanding record-keeping made possible by advances in the printing press. In its determination to preserve the century of revolution, Gale initiated a revolution of its own: digitization of epic proportions to preserve these invaluable works in the largest archive of its kind. Now for the first time these high-quality digital copies of original 18th century manuscripts are available in print, making them highly accessible to libraries, undergraduate students, and independent scholars.Western literary study flows out of eighteenth-century works by Alexander Pope, Daniel Defoe, Henry Fielding, Frances Burney, Denis Diderot, Johann Gottfried Herder, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and others. Experience the birth of the modern novel, or compare the development of language using dictionaries and grammar discourses. ++++The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to insure edition identification: ++++British LibraryT146814The titlepage is engraved. Another issue of this work was published in 1800 bearing the imprint: London printed by C. Whittingham, for T. Cadell Junr. & ..London: printed by C. Whittingham, for T. Heptinstall, and sold by H.D. Symonds, Messrs. A & J. Black & H. Parry, R.H. Westley, J. Robins, and West & Hughes, Archer. Dublin, Bell & Bradfute, Edinburgh & Messrs. Duncans, Glasgow, 1800. [6],235, [1]p., plates; 8°

First published in 1766 and a perennial favorite since then, The Vicar of Wakefield is built around the naïve but loveable figure of Dr Primrose. He and his family live in rural bliss until disaster threatens to destroy their happiness: abduction, impoverishment and betrayal combine to lay them low, but a surprising figure brings hope when all seems lost.

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.

Pook Press celebrates the great Golden Age of Illustration in children's literature. Many of the earliest children's books, particularly those dating back to the 1850s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Pook Press are working to republish these classic works in affordable, high quality, colour editions, using the original text and artwork so these works can delight another generation of children. Arthur Rackham (1867-1939) was one of the premier illustrators of the early 20th Century. He illustrated many books, the first of which was published in 1893. Throughout his career he had developed a very individual style that is was to influence a whole generation of children, artists and other illustrators. His haunting humour and dreamlike romance adds to the enchantment and fantasy of children's literature.