Description
By Oliver Goldsmith. With introductions and notes by John Francis Waller, LL.D. Rediscover one of the enduring classics of English literature in this carefully restored and illustrated edition.
Beloved for generations, The Vicar of Wakefield remains one of the most charming novels of the eighteenth century. Blending humour, sentiment, family drama, romance, and moral reflection, it tells the story of the kindly Dr. Primrose and his family as they encounter hardship, misfortune, and unexpected reversals. Through every trial, the vicar endeavours to preserve his faith, principles, and devotion to those around him. Filled with memorable characters and gentle wit, the novel has retained its appeal for more than two centuries.
Alongside The Vicar of Wakefield, the volume includes a selection of Goldsmith’s miscellaneous poems and his celebrated comedies She Stoops to Conquer and The Good-Natured Man. Together, these works display the range of his writing across fiction, poetry, and drama. John Francis Waller’s introductions and notes provide further literary and historical context, while the numerous illustrations portray characters and scenes found throughout the collection. The text of The Vicar of Wakefield follows the fifth edition of 1773, as adopted for the original Cassell publication.
This carefully restored edition preserves the contents, editorial material, and illustrations of the original Cassell volume, Cassell’s Illustrated Goldsmith, making this substantial collection of Goldsmith’s writings available once again.
About the author: Oliver Goldsmith (1728–1774) was an Irish novelist, poet, playwright, and essayist and one of the leading literary figures of the eighteenth century. Best known for The Vicar of Wakefield, The Deserted Village, and She Stoops to Conquer, he brought warmth, wit, and gentle humour to works that remain classics of English literature.
