The Vicar of Wakefield

by Oliver Goldsmith, Nicholas Farrell (Read by)

Overview

First published in 1766 and a perennial favorite since then, The Vicar of Wakefield is built around the naïve but lovable 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781094017075
Publisher:	Naxos
Publication date:	03/17/2020
Edition description:	Unabridged
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

Robert L. Mack has edited a number of volumes for Oxford World's Classics, including Burney's The Wanderer, and Oriental Tales. He is the author of Thomas Gray: A Life.

Table of Contents

1.	The description of the family of Wakefield; in which a kindred likeness prevails as well of minds as of persons	1
2.	Family misfortunes. The loss of fortune only serves to encrease the pride of the worthy	3
3.	A migration. The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found at last to be of our own procuring	6
4.	A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends not on circumstance, but constitution	11
5.	A new and great acquaintance introduced. What we place most hopes upon generally proves most fatal	13
6.	The happiness of a country fire-side	16
7.	A town wit described. The dullest fellows may learn to be comical for a night or two	18
8.	An amour, which promises little good fortune, yet may be productive of much	21
9.	Two ladies of great distinction introduced. Superior finery ever seems to confer superior breeding	27
10.	The family endeavours to cope with their betters. The miseries of the poor when they attempt to appear above their circumstances	29
11.	The family still resolve to hold up their heads	32
12.	Fortune seems resolved to humble the family of Wakefield. Mortifications are often more painful than real calamities	35
13.	Mr. Burchell is found to be an enemy; for he has the confidence to give disagreeable advice	39
14.	Fresh mortifications, or a demonstration that seeming calamities may be real blessings	41
15.	All Mr. Burchell's villainy at once detected. The folly of being over-wise	45
16.	The family use art, which is opposed with still greater	49
17.	Scarce any virtue found to resist the power of long and pleasing temptation	52
18.	The pursuit of a father to reclaim a lost child to virtue	58
19.	The description of a person discontented with the present government, and apprehensive of the loss of our liberties	61
20.	The history of a philosophic vagabond, pursuing novelty, but losing content	67
21.	The short continuance of friendship amongst the vicious, which is coeval only with mutual satisfaction	76
22.	Offences are easily pardoned where there is love at bottom	82
23.	None but the guilty can be long and completely miserable	85
24.	Fresh calamities	88
25.	No situation, however wretched it seems, but has some sort of comfort attending it	91
26.	A reformation in the gaol. To make laws complete, they should reward as well as punish	94
27.	The same subject continued	97
28.	Happiness and misery rather the result of prudence than of virtue in this life. Temporal evils or felicities being regarded by heaven as things merely in themselves trifling and unworthy its care in the distribution	100
29.	The equal dealings of providence demonstrated with regard to the happy and the miserable here below. That from the nature of pleasure and pain, the wretched must be repaid the balance of their sufferings in the life hereafter	107
30.	Happier prospects begin to appear. Let us be inflexible, and fortune will at last change in our favour	110
31.	Former benevolence now repaid with unexpected interest	115
32.	The Conclusion	125

Editorial Reviews

Patrick Tull has again created a masterpiece, a cameo performance. His vicar, Mr. Primrose, calls to mind the robust, periwig-pated fellow” of an earlier age as we watch him endure the total collapse of his once tranquil world. Everything short of boils befalls the hapless Mr. Primrose, but his resolve is never shaken. Patrick Tull’s voice, expressive and energized with latent excitement, creates anticipation as listeners bemoan Mr. Primrose and family’s parade of tumbling fortunes and rejoice at their restoration. The result is one of the oldest comic novels in English presented to the reader shining with fresh, new varnish. P.E.F. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine

MAR 97 - AudioFile