The Vicar of Wakefield: A Tale (Oxford World's Classics)

Customer Reviews:

Super-Pollyanna Rev Rides Lifeýs Roller Coaster.......2003-06-06

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.

The beleaguered family man.......2003-05-21

Charles Primrose, the protagonist of Oliver Goldsmith's "The Vicar of Wakefield," is a living symbol of the combination of ingenuousness and bad luck; a man so naive and unfortunate yet so deadpan and earnest, he would not only be suckered into buying the worst lemon in the used car lot, but walk out of the salesman's office with a "Kick Me" sign taped to his back. What keeps him going is an infectious cheerfulness, an almost quixotic faith in human virtue, and a devotion to the integrity of his family, even though they are often the cause of his troubles.

Primrose, an Anglican minister and the father of six children, begins accumulating misfortunes from the very beginning of the novel. Right before his eldest son George's wedding, he learns that the merchant with whom he has deposited his sizable inheritance has skipped town with all his money. Now impecunious, he is compelled to move his family to a village where he becomes a tenant farmer under an arrogant and devious young landlord named Thornhill. On the way, they meet an itinerant man of questionable background named Burchell who takes a liking to his daughter Sophia.

Life at the farm is fraught with woe, particularly with regard to money. Both Primrose and his son Moses get cheated out of horses they are selling; his daughters lose the opportunity to secure good positions in London because of false rumors being spread about his family; after Olivia runs off with Thornhill, he pursues her and returns to find his house in flames. When Primrose fails to pay the rent and insults Thornhill, who has spurned Olivia in favor of the very girl of whom George was deprived, he is thrown in jail.

But wait, it gets worse. Sophia is kidnapped by a ruffian; Olivia pines away in misery and dies; George, who has left home to make his own way in the world, ends up in Primrose's jail in a return considerably less dignified than that of the Prodigal Son. Primrose, however, remains confident in the glory of Providence and decides to deliver sermons to reform the other prisoners who, unsurprisingly, initially resist his efforts. That they eventually start taking him seriously only implies that they may be even more gullible than he is.

This is a picaresque novel, somewhat in the spirit of "Don Quixote" or "Tom Jones," featuring an intentionally flawed hero who undergoes improbable adventures; and if it appears that I've given away too much of the plot, keep in mind this is a genre in which nothing is quite as it seems. In fact, the denouement is so utterly silly and even stupid that I can't help but respect it for its brazen absurdity; it's really the only ending befitting a dupe as likeable as Primrose.

A new book of Job.......2001-02-09

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.

An intelligent book.......1999-11-05

I liked this book, but did not get all five stars because of the slowness and somewhat predictable ending. But it was good writing, despite being a little bit stereotypical, but here i am chastizing a book which i gave four stars.

Not something Iýd recommend........1999-08-08

As I was reading this book I found that all I was hearing had to do with how brilliant the men were and how simple the women were. Mr. Wakefield (the father) made several references to how well he "trained" his wife. In another instance, the women were only chatting but the men were arguing philosophy. I also found this book to be a tedious read. I wouldn't waste my time on it.

The Vicar of Wakefield (A Tale Supposedly to Be Written By Himself) (The Collector's Library of the World's Best Loved Books)

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The Vicar of Wakefield (A Tale Supposedly to Be Written By Himself) (The Collector's Library of the World's Best Loved Books)
Oliver Goldsmith
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
ASIN: B000UGGP94

Product Description

Beautifully bound in dark green leather with raised ridges on spine, gold embossed lettering and decoration on the cover, gilded page edges, tan satin moire endpapers and a tan satin ribbon page marker.

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The Vicar of Wakefield (A Tale)
Oliver Goldsmith
Manufacturer: E.P. Dutton & Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000L4BI56

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Vicar of Wakefield a Tale
Oliver Goldsmith
Manufacturer: R ACKERMANN (LONDON)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
ASIN: B000Q5AV80

THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD A Tale Supposed to be Written by Himself

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THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD A Tale Supposed to be Written by Himself

Manufacturer: Houghton, Mifflin & Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IEU4PE

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The Vicar of Wakefield a Tale Supposed to Be Written By Himself
Oliver Goldsmith
Manufacturer: James R Osgood
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NILDSM

Product Description

A classic in green leather with gold and black.

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Vicar of Wakefield, A Tale
Oliver Goldsmith and Thomas Rowlandson
Manufacturer: R ACKERMANN (LONDON)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000TSC290

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The Vicar of Wakefield, a Tale Supposed to be Written By Himself
Oliver Goldsmith
Manufacturer: Leach, Shewell & Sanborn
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NZ837Y

The Vicar of Wakefield, A Tale Supposed To Be Written By Himself (The MacMillan Pocket Classics)

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The Vicar of Wakefield, A Tale Supposed To Be Written By Himself (The MacMillan Pocket Classics)
Oliver Goldsmith
Manufacturer: The MacMillan Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Product Description

Small book 4.25" X 5.75".

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The Vicar of Wakefield, A Tale.
Oliver. Illustrated by George Thomas. Goldsmith
Manufacturer: Sampson Low, Son and Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000SMKD66

Book Description

Managing Change shows companies how to address global changes in technology, products, and individual competencies as they incorporate change into their corporate management strategy. Widely applicable models help managers learn from their own experiences, while numerous case studies drawn from the author's professional experiences provide the opportunity to observe and learn from the successes of others.

Book Description

Many species of penicillium and aspergillus are important in biotechnology, food, medicine, biodeterioration and other applied fields, so a practical and stable taxonomy is of vital importance. Recent developments in science and technology mean that taxonomic classification is no longer confined to classical morphological concepts, and the integration of molecular, physiological and biochemical methods now plays an important role in understanding the classification of these fungi. Integration of Modern Taxonomic Methods for Penicillium and Aspergillus Classification brings together a collection of chapters from international experts in this field. It will be of value to researchers and professionals in mycology, biotechnology, medicine and regulatory agencies interested in the identification of these fungi.

Book Description

In this authoritative three-volume reference work, leading researchers bring together current work to provide a comprehensive analysis of the comparative morphology, development, evolution, and functional biology of the skull.

Book Description

Jerry Stelmok and Deborah Sussex. This all-color celebration of hand craftsmanship and rustic elegance details, from start-to-finish, the construction of Seliga's canoes, from selecting the right woods through the project's inaugural launch.

Customer Reviews:

Okay, so I'm not really a kid........2006-06-12

As a camper at Camp Widjwagan (a YMCA camp outside of Ely, Minnesota) who has used Joe Seliga's canoes many times, I have to say that this is an excellent source of information about canoe making. He was a skilled artist who made magnificent canoes, and I'm honored to say I have used one of his own. So, thank you, Joe Seliga.

A True Artist.......2006-02-28

If you have any thought of building a canoe and want to stand beside a true artist in the field you should get this book. The photography is superb and you can't beat experience and Joe has that. The book shows a price sheet from 1946 when a 18 footer cost $178.00 so that gives you an idea of how experienced. A Beautiful Beautiful book.

A New Appreciation for the Work Behind the Beauty.......2005-03-24

I stopped by Joe's house in Ely to have him autograph my copy. We had never met before but he greeted me warmly, offered me cookies and a drink, showed me his shop, and added me to his list of people who want a canoe. This man is a national treasure and his canoes will be timeless heirlooms.

This book goes into great detail on how he crafts each of his beautiful, rustic, canvas-covered wooden canoes by hand and has given me a bold appreciation for how much work goes into just one canoe. I have no idea how he ever made a living charging only a couple thousand per canoe.

The author Jerry Stelmok did a fine job of breaking a complicated process down into simple text that anyone can enjoy. And National Geographic photographer Deborah Sussex filled the book with enticing photos.

The book sits on my office wall along with other non-fictional works about the woods of Northern Minnesota, and this one by far gets the most attention. It's a wonderful addition to anyone's library.

Enjoy!

Book Description

Updated to conform to current standards and computerized research sources, this succinct, easy-to-follow guide gives students clear directions for writing papers in virtually all academic subjects. The authors describe how to determine a subject, formulate and outline a provisional thesis, prepare a bibliography, take notes from sources, write a draft, then revise and edit the paper, bringing it to its final form. Added advice includes avoiding plagiarism and making the most of library resources.

Customer Reviews:

Good.......2006-08-26

The title was what made me purchase this book. The title was interesting since I need to write so many papers.

Roberta H. Markman, Ph. D.: good writer, bad teacher........2001-11-30

Markman is a much better writer than teacher. I'm taking an Advanced Composition class for high school and we're using this book as a guide. Markman gets off to a great start, in fact, the first few pages are simply inspirational. But after that, it's all downhill. The section on bib cards is just confusing. Instead of providing an outline of how to set them up and examples (like the MLA Guide to Writing a Research Paper), she provides only examples (and many of those examples contain an unbelievable amount of Spanish text). The example on how to reference a casebook were so confused, I ended up just going to looking at the MLA's Reference. The section on taking notes is also unorganized and hard to follow. While I believe she could do an excellent job of guiding us through this procedure, she makes it much more complex than it needs to be. Also, I was reading her sixth edition, published recently. In my opinion, she should have revised the notecard section to show how easy it is to use a computer to take notes. My final complaint about this book is the section on plaigerism. Basically, it teaches a student the best way to plaigerise a book, especially at the high school level. If you're really interested in writing a good research paper, seek another book.

Hideous book.......1999-08-27

Written by a woman who believes that the size of the index card you use to takes notes matters more than what you write on it.

Excellent for High Schoolers.......1997-07-30

This book is an excellent source of information for high school students writing research papers! I highly recommend it for anyone who needs to do research. Whether a first-time writer or someone who has do countless papers, this book shows you step-by-step how to write an excellent paper.

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10 Steps in Writing the Research Paper
Roberta H.; Markman, Peter T.; Waddell, M Markman
Manufacturer: Barrons Educational Series Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NY44AA

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10 steps in writing the research paper
Roberta H Markman & others
Manufacturer: Barron's Educational Series, inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WD42R2

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10 Steps in Writing the Research Paper
Roberta H.; Waddell, Marie L. Markman
Manufacturer: Barron's Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S9TLNK

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Customer Reviews:

best tips for an in-home art studio.......2000-11-24

This little book is jam-packed with helpful tips for the non-professional artist/designer. While I'm sure the professional could profit from this guide, I think it is most useful to the aspiring artist/designer who has a design idea or project and needs help in getting from the creative urge to the realistic application. All kinds of how-to with precise illustrations are detailed by the author: how-to organize your desk top, drawing board and materials and supplies, how-to use inexpensive, easily-available materials to make helpful artistic devices, how-to make lettering, free-hand circles and test t-squares and triangles for "trueness" and on and on. I work in stained glass and I've found this book of great practical value for designing and for setting up a simple work space at home. I think other hobbyists and crafters would find great value for the money in this book.

Lettering Tips: For Artists, Graphic Designers, and Calligraphers

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Lettering Tips: For Artists, Graphic Designers, and Calligraphers
Bill Gray , and Paul Shaw
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Decorative Arts | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Calligraphy | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0393730050

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100 Great Calligraphy Tips
Kathy Jackson
Manufacturer: B.T. Batsford Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Calligraphy | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0713479493

Average customer rating:

I find this an invaluable resource for teaching Calligraphy.

Calligraphy Tips
Bill Gray
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Companies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Book Description

Gray explores the how's and why's of hand lettering, discussing the various styles of calligraphy, the major written alphabets, and the basic tools, materials, and techniques of the calligrapher. This book is full of solid advice, not just for beginning calligraphy students, but for anyone interested in this beautiful and challenging art.

Customer Reviews:

I find this an invaluable resource for teaching Calligraphy........1999-03-23

I'm an art teacher. I teach adult calligraphy clases. Bill Gray's book Calligraphy Tips is a wonderful teaching tool. I often recommend this book as a resource tool. I only wish this book would have been in print when I was in college. Hats off to Bill for such a great calligraphy book!

Fraktur: Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Learning the Craft (Heritage Crafts Today Series)

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Fraktur: Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Learning the Craft (Heritage Crafts Today Series)
Ruthanne Hartung
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Calligraphy | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Timely tips and tricks by the Old Timer: A how-to book & stuff ; poster & sign craft ; fine & contemporary art ; calligraphy, carving

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Timely tips and tricks by the Old Timer: A how-to book & stuff ; poster & sign craft ; fine & contemporary art ; calligraphy, carving
Roy J Riley
Manufacturer: Sun Valley Art Studio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Study & Teaching | Reference | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006YBNJW

Time Management Tips For Calligraphy Kits Online Business Success

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Time Management Tips For Calligraphy Kits Online Business Success
Jassen Bowman and James Orr
Manufacturer: LTBR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000OSOKQ8

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Time Management Tips For Calligraphy Kits Online Business Success
Jassen Bowman and James Orr
Manufacturer: LearnToBeRich.com, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000OJ2WG2

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