title: The Vicar of Wakefield (Penguin English Library)
author:  Oliver Goldsmith 
description: Novel by Oliver Goldsmith, published in two volumes in 1766. The story, a portrait of village life, is narrated by Dr. Primrose, the title character, whose family endures many trials--including the loss of most of their money, the seduction of one daughter, the destruction of their home by fire, and the vicar's incarceration--before all is put right in the end. The novel's idealization of rural life, sentimental moralizing, and melodramatic incidents are countered by a sharp but good-natured irony. -- <i><a href="/exec/obidos/isbn=0877790426/${0}">The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature</a></i>
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  The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Vicar of Wakefield, by Oliver Goldsmith
  
  
  
  
  
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  Title: The Vicar of Wakefield
  
  
  
  
  
  Author: Oliver Goldsmith
  
  
  
  
  
  Release Date: January 8, 2009 [EBook #2667]
  
  
  
  
  
  Language: English
  
  
  
  
  
  Character set encoding: ASCII
  
  
  
  
  
  *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD ***
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Produced by Charles J. Griep, and David Widger
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  # THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD
  
  
    
  
  
  ## A TALE
  
  
    
  
  
  ### Supposed to be written by Himself
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  ### By Oliver Goldsmith
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
      
  
  Sperate miseri, cavete faelices
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  * * *
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  ### Contents
  
  
  [ADVERTISEMENT](0.html#id_2H_4_0001)  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [CHAPTER 1](0.html#id_2HCH00