Click for full-size.
THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD; by Oliver Goldsmith / Embellished with engravings / from the designs of / Richd. Westall, M.A.
by Goldsmith, Oliver
- Used
- very good
- Condition
- Very Good
- Seller
-
Lake Forest, Illinois, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: Printed for John Sharpe, Piccadilly, 1819. Calf. Very Good. Richard Westall, M.A.. 12mo, calf with decorative gold marginal inlays & edges, steel-engraved title page and 5 engravings in text,194-pages + [2pp. table of contents]. Overall, a nicely illustrated and relatively early edition of the English classic (1766) by Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774). The Anglo-Irish author died young and is remembered principally for this work and for the drama "She Stoops to Conquer" (1771). It is also thought that he wrote "Little Goody Two-Shoes" (1765). Richard Westall, RA (1765-1836) was a prominent English painter and illustrator of fiction and poetry. His portraits of Lord Byron were widely acclaimed, and the poet declared that Westall's "brush has beat the poetry." The artist later served as Queen Victoria's drawing master. (Based upon examples of her work recently revealed on television by her grandson, Prince Charles, the queen became quite accomplished in her sketches and studies of children and landscapes.) Bookplate of Jonathan Worthy. Text is clean though slightly age-toned. Spine is chpped at lower margin and joints tended. Leather is rubbed; engravings are very slightly foxed. Page 149 has been imperfectly folded along its right edge, creased, and with a small 1/4" nick.
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
- Borg Antiquarian
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 376
- Title
- THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD; by Oliver Goldsmith / Embellished with engravings / from the designs of / Richd. Westall, M.A.
- Author
- Goldsmith, Oliver
- Illustrator
- Richard Westall, M.A.
- Format/Binding
- Calf
- Book Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Publisher
- Printed for John Sharpe, Piccadilly
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 1819
- Keywords
- 18th century, Enlightenment, illustrated, engravings, novel, England, London, religion
Terms of Sale
Borg Antiquarian
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
Borg Antiquarian
Biblio member since 2015
Lake Forest, Illinois
About Borg Antiquarian
BorgAntiquarian (ABAA & ILAB) is a dealer long engaged in selling exceptional collectibles: rare and fine books, autographs and manuscripts, fine art and artifacts. We are generalists in Americana, English & American literature, plus selected authors & important figures (Dickens & Darwin; presidents & 'signers'; scientists & historical figures; Revolutionary & Civil War militaria).
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Title Page
- A page at the front of a book which may contain the title of the book, any subtitles, the authors, contributors, editors, the...
- 12mo
- A duodecimo is a book approximately 7 by 4.5 inches in size, or similar in size to a contemporary mass market paperback. Also...
- 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....
- Calf
- Calf or calf hide is a common form of leather binding. Calf binding is naturally a light brown but there are ways to treat the...
- Foxed
- Foxing is the age related browning, or brown-yellowish spots, that can occur to book paper over time. When this aging process...
- Bookplate
- Highly sought after by some collectors, a book plate is an inscribed or decorative device that identifies the owner, or former...
- 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...
This Book’s Categories
Positive Representation Matters
Books transmit cultural values and can shape the views of society. Learn more about the history of American literature in Collecting Children’s Literature by Writers and Educators of the Harlem Renaissance.
Storing books - laying down or standing up?
Don’t unwittingly damage your growing book collection! Learn about when to store books laying down vs standing up. Read About Safe Book Storage
