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The Vicar of Wakefield
by Oliver Goldsmith
- Used
- near fine
- Hardcover
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Seller
-
Caterham, Surrey, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Published by Odhams Press Limited, London; Undated, but c.1930s. 299pp. 8vo. First edition thus. No dust jacket. Condition: Near Fine.
Bound in original mottled brown boards with gold gilt title to the spine. The binding is tight and in excellent condition, free from blemishes or damage other than perhaps the slightest touch of bumping to the spine ends. Inside, the pages are clean and bright and free from damage or marks, save some minor toning and the occasional age spot.
The Vicar of Wakefield was originally published in 1766 and was one of the most popular 18th century novels among Victorians. It tells the tale of Dr Charles Primrose and his family, who lose all their money and are forced to relocate to the parish on the land of the womanising Squire Thornhill. This novel tells of their misfortunes and adventure that follow. The novel is typically thought of as a sentimental novel, but it can also be read as a satire on the sentimental novel. Furthermore, it is possible to draw an analogy between the suffering of Dr Primrose and the Book of Job, particularly in relation to the question of why evil exists.
We currently have a range of 41 Odhams Press titles in stock, please don't hesitate to get in touch if you would be interested in purchasing the complete set, we are always happy to work out a deal, and these books would look fabulous on a bookshelf together!
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
- Everlasting Editions
(GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 852
- Title
- The Vicar of Wakefield
- Author
- Oliver Goldsmith
- Book Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First edition thus
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Publisher
- Odhams Press Limited
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- c.1930s
- Pages
- 299pp.
- Size
- 8vo
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
- Keywords
- Oliver, goldsmith, vicar, wakefield, sentimental, romance, satire, religion, analogy, religious, literature, eighteenth, century, victorian, novel, fiction, odhams, press, series, collection, vintage, book
- Bookseller catalogs
- Literature Firsts; Odhams Press Collection;
Terms of Sale
Everlasting Editions
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
Everlasting Editions
Biblio member since 2015
Caterham, Surrey
About Everlasting Editions
Everlasting Editions sells beautiful rare, collectible and signed first edition books to treasure for a lifetime. We offer a wide range of books rom a variety of genres, but specialising in Modern First Editions and Children's First Editions. Whether you simply collect for the joy of owning beautiful rare books or whether you believe, as we do, that they are a worthwhile investment in a time of economic difficulties, we are confident that we have the right book for you.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- 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...
- Jacket
- Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
- 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....
- 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...
- Tight
- Used to mean that the binding of a book has not been overly loosened by frequent use.
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