Click for full-size.
The Vicar of Wakefield - A Tale, Supposed to be written by Himself
by Goldsmith, Oliver (intro. Sir W. Scott; illus. C. E. Brock)
- Used
- Hardcover
- Condition
- Fine, blue calfbound limp boards in grey slipcase, no d/j, gilt spine titling bright; text block firm, pages crisp and unmarked;
- Seller
-
Maidenhead, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: Thomas Nelson, n.d. (?1950). hardback. Fine, blue calfbound limp boards in grey slipcase, no d/j, gilt spine titling bright; text block firm, pages crisp and unmarked; top edge blue. (Nelson's Classics). 18mo (170 x 100 / 6_"" x 4""). Sir Walter Scott introduces the novel by the famed Irish writer Oliver Goldsmiths, one of the most widely-read books in the Victorian era. Often described as a sentimental novel, it 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. Moreover, an analogy can be drawn between Mr. Primrose's suffering and the Book of Job. This is particularly relevant to the question of why evil exists.
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.
Reviews
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- Inklings & Yarnspinners
(GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- IYC79871
- Title
- The Vicar of Wakefield - A Tale, Supposed to be written by Himself
- Author
- Goldsmith, Oliver (intro. Sir W. Scott; illus. C. E. Brock)
- Format/Binding
- Hardback
- Book Condition
- Used - Fine, blue calfbound limp boards in grey slipcase, no d/j, gilt spine titling bright; text block firm, pages crisp and unmarked;
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Publisher
- Thomas Nelson
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- n.d. (?1950)
- Pages
- 283
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
- Keywords
- fiction, pocket, Goldsmith, Walter Scott
- Bookseller catalogs
- 2nd-hand books;
- Size
- 18mo (170 x 100 / 6_\"\" x 4\"\")
Terms of Sale
Inklings & Yarnspinners
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Inklings & Yarnspinners
Biblio member since 2021
Maidenhead, Berkshire
About Inklings & Yarnspinners
INKLINGS & YARNSPINNERSA new online bookshop forFIRST & SIGNED EDITIONS, RARE BOOKSA particular focus on:- The Oxford Inklings with their Friends & Influences (C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, Barfield, Williams, Chesterton, Macdonald, Sayers, etc)- Great 20th Century Novelists (e.g. Graham Greene & John le Carré; Anthony Powell & Evelyn Waugh; P. D. James etc)- Great 20th Century Poets (e.g. T. S. Eliot, John Masefield, Walter de la Mare, Seamus Heaney, Ted Hughes, Sylvia Plath, Stevie Smith, W. H. Auden, Stephen Spender, Dylan Thomas, etc)- Christian Theology (e.g. from library sales)
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...
- Text Block
- Most simply the inside pages of a book. More precisely, the block of paper formed by the cut and stacked pages of a book....
- 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....
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Crisp
- A term often used to indicate a book's new-like condition. Indicates that the hinges are not loosened. A book described as crisp...
This Book’s Categories
Beat Poet Michael McClure
From the fateful reading at Six-Gallery in 1955 to his novels, poetry, and stage productions, Michael McClure was right in the thick of the Beat Generation as it was born. See his books and art and learn more about the works of Michael McClure.
Collecting Disneyana
Welcome to the wonderful world of collecting Walt Disney! From letters signed by Disney himself to classic children’s books or ephemera, be sure to check out some of the collectible Walt Disney books on Biblio!
