The Vicar of Wakefield

The Vicar of Wakefield: A Tale, Supposed to Be Written by Himself is a 1766 sentimental novel by Anglo-Irish writer Oliver Goldsmith (1728–1774). It was written from 1761 to 1762 and published in London in 1766. It was one of the most popular and widely read 18th-century novels among the British citizenry, and remains a classic of English literature. The work also saw over 200 editions being printed during the same period and was considered a staple of English reading novels.

The novel follows the Primrose family's journey from wealth, joy and prosperity to hardship, ruin and social disgrace, ultimately culminating in their return to happiness and good social standing. Through a series of unexpected events and incidents, as well as the arrival of Sir William Thornhill, the family slowly overcomes their difficulties one by one and regains their former status. Goldsmith uses a variety of methods, including satire and comedy, to expose the moral failings, indifference and hypocrisy of the upper classes, contrasting them with the Primroses family's plain but virtuous life.

The book consists of 32 chapters divided into three parts, and Samuel Johnson played a major role in its publication. Critics generally regarded the work as a fictitious memoir, narrated from the perspective of the Vicar. While it is categorised as a sentimental novel, it also has features of a satire, and has been used by scholars to explain the problem of evil. The work was noted for addressing the prevailing social and rural aspects of the time. It also idealised the portrayal of village life and the inherent goodness of its characters, particularly Charles Primrose and his family, while emphasising themes of faith, virtue, and resilience. Primrose, in particular, embodies Christian values and steadfastly maintains his integrity despite facing financial ruin, imprisonment, and the moral failings of his children.

The novel is Goldsmith’s best-known work, and has been adapted for drama and opera. It influenced scores of later English writers during the Victorian era, and is also studied in literary circles for its language and idyllic setting of British citizenry life during the 18th century. The characters in the work find mention in some of the best-known novels of the 19th century, including A Tale of Two Cities, Emma, Little Women, Middlemarch, and Frankenstein. Critics have often made comparisons between the themes of the novel and the Book of Job, particularly in philosophical terms. The work served as a notable predecessor to Gothic and Romantic literature as well, due to it challenging the ideals of rationalism.