The Vicar of Wakefield - Illustrated by Arthur Rackham

Oliver Goldsmith, Arthur Rackham

• Publisher: Pook Press
• Year: 2013
• Print ISBN: 9781447477976, 9781447478324
• eBook ISBN: 9781473383999
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Classics
• Index: Literature

The Vicar of Wakefield, subtitled, 'A Tale Supposed to be written by Himself' – is a novel by Irish writer Oliver Goldsmith (1728 – 1774). It was one of the most popular and widely read eighteenth century novels, displaying the author's belief in the innate goodness of human beings. 'The Vicar of Wakefield' can also be read however, as a satire on the sentimental novel and its values, as the vicar's values are apparently not compatible with the real 'sinful' world. Whichever interpretation the reader takes, it is a story to be appreciated by both young and old alike – loved and cited by writers as talented and diverse as Charles Dickens, Mary Shelley, Charlotte Brontë and Goethe. The book further contains a series of dazzling colour and black-and-white illustrations – by a master of the craft; Arthur Rackham (1867 – 1939). One of the most celebrated painters of the British Golden Age of Illustration (which encompassed the years from 1850 until the start of the First World War), Rackham's artistry is quite simply, unparalleled. Throughout his career, he developed a unique style, combining haunting humour with dream-like romance. Presented alongside the text, his illustrations further refine and elucidate Oliver Goldsmith's enthralling storytelling.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half title
• Title
• Contents
• Illustrations in Colour
• I. The Description of the Family of Wakefield, in which a Kindred Likeness prevails, as well of Minds as of Persons
• II. Family Misfortunes. The Loss of Fortune only serves to increase the Pride of the Worthy
• III. A Migration. The Fortunate Circumstances of our Lives are generally found at last to be of our own Procuring
• IV. A Proof that even the Humblest Fortune may grant Happiness, which depends, not on Circumstance, but Constitution
• V. A New and Great Acquaintance introduced. What we place most Hopes upon, generally proves most Fatal
• VI. The Happiness of a Country Fireside
• VII. A Town Wit described. The Dullest Fellows may learn to be Comical for a Night or Two
• VIII. An Amour which promises little Good Fortune, yet may be Productive of much
• IX. Two Ladies of Great Distinction introduced. Superior Finery ever seems to confer Superior Breeding
• X. The Family endeavour to cope with their Betters. The Miseries of the Poor when they attempt to appear above their Circumstances
• XI. The Family still resolve to hold up their Heads
• XII. Fortune seems resolved to humble the Family of Wakefield. Mortifications are often more Painful than Real Calamities
• XIII. Mr Burchell is found to be an Enemy; for he has the Confidence to give Disagreeable Advice
• XIV. Fresh Mortifications, or a Demonstration that Seeming Calamities may be Real Blessings
• XV. All Mr Burchell’s Villainy at once detected. The Folly of being Over-wise
• XVI. The Family use Art, which is opposed with still Greater
• XVII. Scarcely any Virtue found to resist the Power of Long and Pleasing Temptation
• XVIII. The Pursuit of a Father to reclaim a Lost Child to Virtue
• XIX. The Description of a Person discontented with the Present Government, and apprehensive of the Loss of our Liberties
• XX. The History of a Philosophic Vagabond, pursuing Novelty, but losing Content
• XXI. The Short Continuance of Friendship amongst the Vicious, which is Coeval only with Mutual Satisfaction
• XXII. Offences are easily pardoned, where there is Love at Bottom
• XXIII. None but the Guilty can be Long and Completely Miserable
• XXIV. Fresh Calamities
• XXV. No Situation, however Wretched it seems, but has some Sort of Comfort attending it
• XXVI. A Reformation in the Jail.—To make Laws Complete, they should reward as well as punish
• XXVII. The Same Subject continued
• XXVIII. 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
• XXIX. 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
• XXX. Happier Prospects begin to appear. Let us be Inflexible, and Fortune will at last change in our Favour
• XXXI. Former Benevolence now repaid with Unexpected Interest
• XXXII. The Conclusion