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THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD.

THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD.

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THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD.

by Goldsmith Oliver

  • Used
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
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About This Item

New York: Heritage Press, 1939. First edition thus. Illustrated with eight full page drawings by John Austen. 8vo, in the publisher’s original rust boards, gilt lettered on the spine and with brown decorated borders on the upper cover. In the original slipcase.
vii, 210 pp. A fine copy, light mellowing to the spine panel and some to the slipcase. DELICATE BLACK AND WHITE DRAWINGS WOVEN WITHIN THE TEXT AND FULL PAGE COLOR-TINTED ILLUSTRATIONS AS WELL BY JOHN AUSTEN. A delightful edition of this Goldsmith classic.
In literary history books, 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, as the vicar's values are apparently not compatible with the real "sinful" world. It is only with Sir William Thornhill's help that he can get out of his calamities.
One of the most popular novels of the Victorian era. It is mentioned in George Eliot's Middlemarch, Stendhal's The Life of Henry Brulard, Arthur Schopenhauer's "The Art of Being Right", Jane Austen's Emma, Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities and David Copperfield, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Sarah Grand's The Heavenly Twins, Charlotte Brontë's The Professor and Villette, Louisa May Alcott's Little Women and in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther, as well as his Dichtung und Wahrheit.

Synopsis

"The greatest object in the universe, says a certain philosopher, is a good man struggling with adversity." When Dr Primrose loses his fortune in a disastrous investment, his idyllic life in the country is shattered and he is forced to move with his wife and six children to an impoverished living on the estate of Squire Thornhill. Taking to the road in pursuit of his daughter, who has been seduced by the rakish Squire, the beleaguered Primrose becomes embroiled in a series of misadventures – encountering his long-lost son in a travelling theatre company and even spending time in a debtor’s prison. Yet Primrose, though hampered by his unworldliness and pride, is sustained by his unwavering religious faith. In The Vicar of Wakefield , Goldsmith gently mocks many of the literary conventions of his day – from pastoral and romance to the picaresque – infusing his story of a hapless clergyman with warm humour and amiable social satire. In his introduction, Stephen Coote discusses Goldsmith’s eventful life, the literary devices used in the novel, and its central themes of Christianity, justice and the family. This edition also includes a bibliography and notes.

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Details

Bookseller
Buddenbrooks, Inc. US (US)
Bookseller's Inventory #
27945
Title
THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD.
Author
Goldsmith Oliver
Book Condition
Used
Binding
Hardcover
Publisher
Heritage Press
Place of Publication
New York
Date Published
1939

Terms of Sale

Buddenbrooks, Inc.

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About the Seller

Buddenbrooks, Inc.

Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Biblio member since 2009
Newburyport, Massachusetts

About Buddenbrooks, Inc.

Buddenbrooks has one of the finest collections of landmark, rare books and manuscripts in the world. Our intention is to provide great books or manuscripts in excellent condition. We enjoy sharing our passion and expertise with anyone interested in fine and rare books. And we also look forward to the opportunity to meet you. We maintain premises in the heart of historic Newburyport which are reminiscent of a European style librarie. We encourage you to visit our shop where books are beautifully presented in fine library cabinets in a sophisticated environment. We are also available by appointment only to meet with clients in Boston, where we also have maintained a presence for over 40 years. If you see an item which interests you or if you would like to learn more about our offerings, please contact us via telephone, fax or e-mail.

Glossary

Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Gilt
The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
First Edition
In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
Fine
A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
Spine
The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....

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