Goldsmith's The vicar of Wakefield

The Vicar of Wakefield was originally penned by Oliver Goldsmith in 1766, emerging during the height of the sentimental novel movement in 18th-century English literature. It was designed to subvert the rigid moralizing often found in fiction of that era, presenting the trials of the Primrose family with a mixture of gentle irony and genuine human warmth. This particular edition by E.P. Dutton belongs to a long tradition of reprinting the classic, often formatted for the Everyman’s Library series which aimed to provide high-quality, accessible literature to the general public.

The design sensibilities of Dutton’s historical reprints reflect a commitment to the classic aesthetic of the turn of the 20th century. By employing clear typography and durable, understated bindings, the publisher sought to honor the enduring legacy of Goldsmith's prose. Though the specific ISBN provided denotes a modern print-on-demand version, the text itself remains a touchstone of English letters, having been consistently celebrated for its conversational wit and its foundational influence on the development of the domestic novel.