Oliver Goldsmith

Gia dal prologo di questa commedia, lAutore rivela il suo intento: cercare un rimedio, una pozione magica, per un lutto imminente che incombe, la perdita della Musa Comica, in altre parole, la perdita di quel talento che, grazie a uno sguardo ironico sulla realta, riesce a collocare qualsiasi evento, felice o sventurato che sia, nel possibile scenario della vita di un uomo. È necessario, allora, preservare lironia e affidare allequivoco, deus ex machina che trascende ogni disegno umano anche quando e architettato con cura, lo svolgersi degli eventi. Nessun cedimento, quindi, alla commedia sentimentale dove il volto e mummificato nella sua rigidita espressiva e impedisce quel movimento, quello scossone salutare che fa di ogni uomo lartefice del proprio destino e che si radica solamente nella capacita di starsene fuori dalle proprie disgrazie fino a sorriderne.Ma cosa sappiamo in fondo dellequivoco e della sua forza sovversiva che sradica le identificazioni, rovescia lo status sociale, economico, giuridico, ci rende estraneo il familiare, sorprendente lusuale , quando per noi moderni e solo un fastidio, o addirittura unoffesa che ci recano gli eventi nella loro imprevedibilita, irragionevolezza, mancato realismo? Eppure, non solo e necessario lasciare che lequivoco accada, che compia la sua opera, senza opporvisi subito col cercare ansiosamente chiarimenti per rimettere tutto e tutti di nuovo al proprio posto; ma addirittura, la dove i rapporti sociali sono ormai pietrificati nel conformismo e nel moralismo, occorre ingegnarsi a provocarlo con lartificio, perche il desiderio, riconciliandoci con la vita accettata in tutte le sue aberrazioni, possa rigenerarsi. È questa la lezione che The mistakes of a night eredita dalla Comedy of errors shakespeariana, che qualcuno, in onore della Musa Comica, ha arditamente tradotto con degli equivoci.La presente traduzione si e impegnata a restituire nella nostra lingua la compita ma iconoclastica ironia che ordisce i dialoghi di She Stoops to Conquer; or, The Mistakes of a Night (1773), probabilmente lultima opera di Oliver Goldsmith (1728? 4 aprile 1774) e uno dei piu grandi successi del teatro inglese del 700, che calca tuttora le scene con un passo secondo solo alle opere del Grande Bardo. Il testo si basa sulla recente edizione critica inclusa in The Broadwiew Anthology of restoration and eighteenth-century comedy, a cura di Brian Corman, 2013 Broadview Press, Toronto.

Illus.: Randolph Caldecott

In "Dalziels Illustrated Goldsmith," Oliver Goldsmith offers a captivating compilation of his most celebrated works, adorned with exquisite illustrations that enhance the readers experience. The volume includes not only his beloved poetry but also narratives that showcase Goldsmiths adeptness in weaving social commentary into engaging prose. Written in a lyrical style characterized by its warmth and humor, the book reflects the Enlightenment eras values while also illuminating the human condition through its exploration of themes such as nature, society, and the complexities of life. Oliver Goldsmith (1730-1774) was a novelist, playwright, and poet whose diverse backgroundfrom studying at Trinity College, Dublin, to his experiences as a physician and a wandering journalistinformed his multifaceted literary prowess. His works often mirrored the struggles of contemporary society, revealing his empathy for the common man and a deep concern for social issues. This rich tapestry of experiences undoubtedly contributed to the depth and relatability found throughout this illustrated collection. "Dalziels Illustrated Goldsmith" is an essential read for lovers of classic literature, combining the beauty of poetic expression with artistic imagery to create a timeless tribute to Goldsmiths legacy. This book charms both scholars and casual readers, offering insights into 18th-century thought while remaining accessible and engaging.

Oliver Goldsmiths "The Vicar of Wakefield" is a pastoral novel that elegantly weaves themes of virtue, familial love, and societal critique within the canvas of 18th-century English society. Written in a style rich with humor and sentimentality, the narrative follows the life of Dr. Primrose, a compassionate vicar, as he navigates adversity while maintaining his moral integrity. Goldsmith employs a unique mix of epistolary elements and heartfelt dialogue, thereby creating a vivid portrayal of rural life that critiques class structures and highlights the simplicity and honesty of rural existence against the backdrop of a rapidly industrializing world. Goldsmith, an Irish playwright, poet, and novelist, was deeply influenced by his experiences in both rural and urban settings, as well as the Enlightenment ideals of his time. His struggles with financial insecurity and the societal expectations placed upon him can be seen reflected in Dr. Primroses trials. This nuanced understanding of human emotion, combined with Goldsmiths keen sense of observation, positions him as a forerunner of the sentimental novel, enriching his voice with authenticity and empathy. Readers seeking a profound examination of human resilience amidst societal challenges will find "The Vicar of Wakefield" a timeless and engaging read. Beyond its narrative charm, the novel invites contemplation on morality, family, and the human condition, making it a quintessential text for those interested in the intersections of literature, philosophy, and social commentary.

When Dr Primrose loses his fortune in a disastrous investment, his idyllic life in the country is shattered and he is forced to move with his wife and six children to an impoverished living on the estate of Squire Thornhill. Taking to the road in pursuit of his daughter, who has been seduced by the rakish Squire, the beleaguered Primrose becomes embroiled in a series of misadventures - encountering his long-lost son in a travelling theatre company and even spending time in a debtor's prison. Yet Primrose, though hampered by his unworldliness and pride, is sustained by his unwavering religious faith. In The Vicar of Wakefield, Goldsmith gently mocks many of the literary conventions of his day - from pastoral and romance to the picaresque - infusing his story of a hapless clergyman with warm humour and amiable social satire.

Oliver Goldsmith''s hugely successful novel of 1766 remained for generations one of the most highly regarded and beloved works of eighteenth-century fiction. It depicts the fall and rise of the Primrose family, presided over by the benevolent vicar, the narrator of a fairy-tale plot of impersonation and deception, the abduction of a beautiful heroine and the machinations of an aristocratic villain. By turns comic and sentimental, the novel''s popularity owes much to its recognizable depiction of domestic life and loving family relationships. New to this edition is an introduction by Robert L. Mack that examines the reasons for the novels enduring popularity, as well as the critical debates over whether it is a straightforward novel of sentiment or a satire on the social and economic inequalities of the period and the very literary conventions and morality it seems to embody. This edition also includes a new, up-to-date bibliography and expanded notes, and contains reprints of Arthur Friedman''s authoritative Oxford English Novels text of the corrected first edition of 1766.

An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog, although it is announced as an elegy on a dog, is more properly a satire on an elegy. In summary, we are presented with a good and pious man, a good Christian, who appears to be a fine example of Christianity and well-liked by the townspeople. anboco presents interesting, highly entertaining and exciting literature of great writers and authors.

Illus.: Randolph Caldecott

The Deserted Village is a poem by Oliver Goldsmith published in 1770. It is a work of social commentary, and condemns rural depopulation and the pursuit of excessive wealth.The location of the poems deserted village is unknown, but the description may have been influenced by Goldsmiths memory of his childhood in rural Ireland, and his travels around England. The poem is written in heroic couplets, and describes the decline of a village and the emigration of many of its residents to America. In the poem, Goldsmith criticises rural depopulation, the moral corruption found in towns, consumerism, enclosure, landscape gardening, avarice, and the pursuit of wealth from international trade. The poem employs, in the words of one critic, "deliberately precise obscurity", and does not reveal the reason why the village has been deserted. The poem was very popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, but also provoked critical responses, including from other poets such as George Crabbe. References to the poem, and particularly its ominous "Ill fares the land" warning, have appeared in a number of other contexts.

The middle of the last century was an evil time, in England, for literature and for literary men. The period was eminently one of transition; and transition periods are always times of trial to all whose interests they affect. The old system passes away, bearing with it those who cling to it; the new system requires time until it is in working order, and those who depend upon its advent for their subsistence are sorely harassed while the turmoil lasts. Thus it was with literature at the time when Goldsmith began to write. The age in which literary men depended upon patrons had passed away. No more snug government berths, no more secretaryships, as in the time of Addison and Prior and Steeleand the time when the public was to support literature had not yet come.Thus the author was compelled either to depend entirely on the booksellers, or to sell his pen, in true hireling fashion, to the government of the day, or to the opposition, and to scribble approval or invective at his masters dictation. Happily for his own fame, happily for English literature, the author of the "Vicar of Wakefield" chose the former alternative...

Oliver Goldsmith, Irish novelist, playwright and poet, who is best known for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield (1766), his pastoral poem The Deserted Village (1770), and his plays The Good-Naturd Man (1768) and She Stoops to Conquer (1771, first performed in 1773). He is thought to have written the classic childrens tale The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes (1765).

The researches of Niebuhr and several other distinguished German scholars have thrown a new light on Roman History, and enabled us to discover the true constitution of that republic which once ruled the destinies of the known world, and the influence of whose literature and laws is still powerful in every civilized state, and will probably continue to be felt to the remotest posterity. These discoveries have, however, been hitherto useless to junior students in this country; the works of the German critics being unsuited to the purposes of schools, not only from their price, but also from the extensive learning requisite to follow them through their laborious disquisitions. The editor has, therefore, thought that it would be no unacceptable service, to prefix a few Introductory Chapters, detailing such results from their inquiries as best elucidate the character and condition of the Roman people, and explain the most important portion of the history. The struggles between the patricians and plebeians, respecting the agrarian laws have been so strangely misrepresented, even by some of the best historians, that the nature of the contest may, with truth, be said to have been wholly misunderstood before the publication of Niebuhrs work: a perfect explanation of these important matters cannot be expected in a work of this kind; the Editors trust that the brief account given here of the Roman tenure of land, and the nature of the agrarian laws, will be found sufficient for all practical purposes.

Charming satire of the sentimental comedies of the day has entertained audiences since 1773. A young lady poses as a serving girl to win the heart of a young gentleman too shy to court ladies of his own class. Many delightful deceits, hilarious turns of plot must be played out before the play concludes happily. Notes.

El reverendo Primrose, que vive en una pequeña parroquia de Inglaterra, ha formado una familia unida, feliz, llena de generosidad e inocencia. De pronto, como un rayo satánico, la desgracia cae sobre ellos: el reverendo pierde todos sus bienes al verse envuelto en la quiebra de un comerciante bribon y acaba en la carcel por deudas despues de ver destruida su casa por un incendio.