Philadelphia: David McKay Co., 1929 First American trade edition. Quarto. 9½ x 7¼ inches. 232pp. plus 12 full-page plates in color and 22 black & white drawings, gray and white pictorial endpapers. Dark gray-blue cloth, gilt lettering and illustration on cover, top edges gilt. The slightest of rubbing to foot of spine, near owner's name and address on end. A very fine and bright copy. The classic Goldsmith novel depicting the fall and rise of the Primrose family, presided over by the benevolent vicar. Beautifully illustrated by Arthur Rackham, the premier British illustrator of the late 19th - early 20th century, focusing on the illustration of classic children's literature and fairy tales. [Latimore and Haskell: p. 65].. Illus. by Rackham, Arthur.

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: Argonaut Book Shop (US)
Bookseller's Inventory #: 1557
Title: The Vicar of Wakefield
Author: Goldsmith, Oliver
Illustrator: Rackham, Arthur
Book Condition: Used
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: David McKay Co.
Place of Publication: Philadelphia
Date Published: 1929
Keywords: Fairy-Tales Arthur Rackham Illustrated Books Children

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Argonaut Book Shop

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About Argonaut Book Shop

The Argonaut Book Shop was founded in 1941 in the middle of the financial district of San Francisco. The Argonaut was a founding member of the Antiquarian Booksellers\' Association of America and has been a member in good standing ever since. The Shop is now located just three blocks from Union Square in downtown San Francisco and is open six days a week. Parking facilities include ample street space and a parking garage close by.

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Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Cloth: "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
Quarto: The term quarto is used to describe a page or book size. A printed sheet is made with four pages of text on each side, and the...
Rubbing: Abrasion or wear to the surface. Usually used in reference to a book's boards or dust-jacket.
Edges: The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
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...
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....