Rating: 
Summary: A new book of Job
Review: In the Bible, Job is a wealthy and happy man who is put to test by God, in order to settle a bet with the Devil. Primrose, the vicar of Wakefield, seems to suffer the same fate: first, he loses all his money; then, a man seduces his daughter and all manners of trouble set upon he and his family. But the man will never surrender. His undestructible good humor and wit, his reliance on philosophy and religion, allow him to endure all kinds of calamities, until the happy end. This is not a moralizaing book: it is pure, intelligent fun, with a message not lectured to us, but insinuated. This novel deserves to be put out of the infamous "classic" shelf (the one that condemns masterpieces of art to become "boring" for lazy readers) and into the public. It's very much worth it.
Rating:
Summary: The Consolations of Philosophy and Religion
Review: Oliver Goldsmith's 1766 novel, "The Vicar of Wakefield" offers the trials and tribulations of Primrose, an ecclesiastic living in the English countryside. Primrose is content in his life, with a faithful wife, and lovely, if somewhat distracted children. Hearing that his banker has gotten into trouble and fled the country, Primrose and his family begin a series of adventures which test the strength of Primrose's convictions.Among the issues which Goldsmith addresses in the novel are social ambition in a rigid class system, the drawbacks and benefits of a relatively liberal household, and the admittedly imperfect nature of the British legal system. Sprinkled throughout the novel are various discourses on the notion of liberty, the primacy of the monarchy, and a wealth of interesting references to British imperialism and colonial slavery. Regarding the class system, Primrose seems throughout the novel, to eschew the idea that social or economic mobility is possible, or even desirable. He posits, in a way that follows Aristotle and Edmund Burke, that people are fit for certain stations by their very nature; and that such social partitioning is right and should be maintained. Primrose also appears as a latter day Horace, championing the virtues of simple, rustic life. This pastoral life is directly associated in the novel with the laboring classes, who, not without faults themselves, manage to avoid the intrigues and excesses of the consistently vilified city folk. Goldsmith's writing style is fast-paced, with clear, direct language, wonderfully rendered characters, and a surprising number of plot twists for so short a work. Primrose and his eldest son George are the two finest characters in the novel. Both exhibit a picaresque tendency to wander and interact - Primrose with the intellectual/philosophical elements, and George with the material/experiential elements in the world. This is altogether a wonderful, spirited novel, and Stephen Coote's introduction to this Penguin edition is excellent in its explication of the novel's major themes and concerns.
Rating:
Summary: "It is no easy matter to get into the families of the great"
Review: The plot of the 18th century novel, "The Vicar of Wakefield" makes the book sound like a soap opera. It's the tale of a sweet, unworldly vicar--Dr Primrose--who leads a simple but satisfying life with his large family. When the book begins, Primrose is cognizant of his good fortune. He loves his wife, he's proud of his six children, and they live "in a state of much happiness." And indeed, Primrose's description of his family life certainly does sound rather enviable. Even such minor tribulations as Mrs. Primrose's "custards plundered by cats" seem amusing. Just as we are introduced to the delights of the Primrose family, their fortunes change rapidly. It seems that the merchant company holding Primrose's fortune is bankrupt. Things go downhill for the Primroses from here on. At first they move to a small country vicarage where Primrose also plans to manage a farm. They meet Squire Thornhill, and he appears to be a perfect gentleman. Squire Thornhill is soon a frequent visitor at the Primrose home, and he is clearly an admirer of the eldest, beautiful daughter, Olivia. Mrs. Primrose is practically rubbing her hands with glee at the prospect of marrying her penniless daughter off to the Squire. In her case, the desire for social advancement--or wishful thinking--undermines whatever common sense she was born with, and Mrs. Primrose ignores some rather obvious danger signals. "The Vicar of Wakefield" is a delightful example of the 18th century novel. The novel has a certain cosy feel to it, and the characters--especially the vicar--are endearing. The novel is loaded with wisdom generally delivered through the character of the poor, much-put-upon Primrose. Primrose, for example, cautions both his wife and his daughters against encouraging a social relationship with the Squire. Primrose believes that "disproportioned friendships ever terminate in disgust," but the Vicar's wish is overridden and hence the drama begins. For a reader not used to 18th century language, Goldsmith's style needs some getting used to, but it's really worth the effort. "The Vicar of Wakefield" incidentally, includes three of Goldsmith's poems within the text of the novel. These three poems are "The Hermit: or Edwin and Angelina," "When Lovely Woman Stoops to Folly," and "Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog."--displacedhuman
Rating:
Summary: "It is no easy matter to get into the families of the great"
Review: The plot of the 18th century novel, "The Vicar of Wakefield" makes the book sound like a soap opera. It's the tale of a sweet, unworldly vicar--Dr Primrose--who leads a simple but satisfying life with his large family. When the book begins, Primrose is cognizant of his good fortune. He loves his wife, he's proud of his six children, and they live "in a state of much happiness." And indeed, Primrose's description of his family life certainly does sound rather enviable. Even such minor tribulations as Mrs. Primrose's "custards plundered by cats" seem amusing. Just as we are introduced to the delights of the Primrose family, their fortunes change rapidly. It seems that the merchant company holding Primrose's fortune is bankrupt. Things go downhill for the Primroses from here on. At first they move to a small country vicarage where Primrose also plans to manage a farm. They meet Squire Thornhill, and he appears to be a perfect gentleman. Squire Thornhill is soon a frequent visitor at the Primrose home, and he is clearly an admirer of the eldest, beautiful daughter, Olivia. Mrs. Primrose is practically rubbing her hands with glee at the prospect of marrying her penniless daughter off to the Squire. In her case, the desire for social advancement--or wishful thinking--undermines whatever common sense she was born with, and Mrs. Primrose ignores some rather obvious danger signals. "The Vicar of Wakefield" is a delightful example of the 18th century novel. The novel has a certain cosy feel to it, and the characters--especially the vicar--are endearing. The novel is loaded with wisdom generally delivered through the character of the poor, much-put-upon Primrose. Primrose, for example, cautions both his wife and his daughters against encouraging a social relationship with the Squire. Primrose believes that "disproportioned friendships ever terminate in disgust," but the Vicar's wish is overridden and hence the drama begins. For a reader not used to 18th century language, Goldsmith's style needs some getting used to, but it's really worth the effort. "The Vicar of Wakefield" incidentally, includes three of Goldsmith's poems within the text of the novel. These three poems are "The Hermit: or Edwin and Angelina," "When Lovely Woman Stoops to Folly," and "Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog."--displacedhuman
Rating: 
Summary: Super-Pollyanna Rev Rides Life¿s Roller Coaster
Review: The Vicar is imprisoned for debt, lying on a bed of straw in a damp jail cell in 18th century England. His elder daughter has died of grief after having been tricked, seduced, and discarded by a Villain. His son, in the navy, has been dragged to jail in chains for trying to fight a duel, his other children and wife are starving, his house has burned down and the Vicar's arm severely burnt. Now, let's see----what else can we pile on here ? Oh, yes, another daughter has been kidnapped by ruffians. What should he do ? How about delivering a sermon on happiness and the benign nature of Providence to his fellow convicts ? This dude is wildly naïve and over-the-top optimistic or I'm a monkey's uncle !! If fantastic coincidences and deus ex machina moments are your bag, you are going to love THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. If you are also a "phan of philosophy", then you may thrill to this 18th century version of the Perils of Pauline salted through with sincere observations on Life and generously long moral soliloquies. There are earnest lectures on capital punishment and the virtues of monarchy. The benefits to society of everyone's remaining in their place are also touted. But honestly, for 21st century readers, THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD is not a novel to admire in a literary sense. The characters lack depth or subtlety; many move across the stage like puppets. I understand that as an 18th century work, it is of interest to scholars and students of English literature or maybe, literary history in general. For them, Goldsmith's novel may deserve more stars---you may, indeed, enjoy the English language usages of 250 years ago. But as a literary work, in comparison with all that is available to us now, no, I don't think it deserves more. You can learn about conditions and ways of thought at the time by reading the book and it may indeed show the indestructability of the human spirit (as the Afterword in my edition suggested). However, large numbers of other writers have shown the same thing, only they have done it better.
Rating: 
Summary: Good 18th Century Novel
Review: The Vicar of Wakefield is a good book that shows how a family overcomes one harship after another. It is funny and at times very witty. Even though the language is a bit old fashioned, the book is still fun to read.
Rating:
Summary: Charming book!
Review: The Vicar of Wakefield is a wonderful book. A little slow going sometimes, but still a good read. Not only does it tell a story of a family but it also relates very well to real life moral and ethic values. It could almost be said to be inspiring. And definitely shows that the ends justifies the means.
Rating:
Summary: Charming Olde England
Review: This volume is well worth the time for any lover of English Literature. It accurately portrays the life of an English vicar and his family. It is a book that will leave you yearning for more.
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