Difference between revisions of "Oliver Goldsmith" - New World Encyclopedia
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[[Image:GoldsmithOliver.jpg|thumb|right|Oliver Goldsmith]] | [[Image:GoldsmithOliver.jpg|thumb|right|Oliver Goldsmith]] | ||
| − | '''Oliver Goldsmith''' (November 10, 1730(?) – April 4, 1774) was an Anglo-Irish author and one of the most versatile English writers of the 18th-century. Goldsmith wrote poetry, plays, essays, fiction, journalism, histories, biographies, and more. Although a good portion of Goldsmith's vast oeuvre is considered uneven by today's standards, a sizeable handful of his works in various genres, including his novel ''The Vicar of Wakefield'', his pastoral poem ''Deserted | + | '''Oliver Goldsmith''' (November 10, 1730(?) – April 4, 1774) was an Anglo-Irish author and one of the most versatile English writers of the 18th-century. Goldsmith wrote poetry, plays, essays, fiction, journalism, histories, biographies, and more. Although a good portion of Goldsmith's vast oeuvre is considered uneven by today's standards, a sizeable handful of his works in various genres are considered 18th-century classics, including his novel ''The Vicar of Wakefield'', his pastoral poem ''The Deserted Village'', his collection of semi-fictional essays ''Citizen of the World'', and his popular comic play, ''She Stoops To Conquer''. Goldsmith was a contemporary and confidant of [[Samuel Johnson|Dr. Johnson]] and the two writers often exchanged ideas, leading to perhaps one of the most fruitful intellectual partnerships in 18th-century English letters. Goldsmith became a member of "The Club", one of the most influential circles of literary and intellectual figures in the 18th-century, associating with [[Sir Joshua Reynolds]], [[Edmund Burke]], and [[James Boswell]]. Although he is not as popular as he once was, Goldsmith remains one of the major writers of 18th-century England; he is still acclaimed by many critics for his effortlessly masterful prose-style that makes even his slightest works eminently readable. Greatly respected by the writers of his own time, Goldsmith is one of the luminaries of his period. |
==Life== | ==Life== | ||
| − | + | Goldsmith was born in the townland of Pallas, near Ballymahon, County Longford, Ireland, where his father, the Rev. Charles Godlsmith, was curate of the parish of Forgney. When Goldsmith was aged two, his father was appointed rector of the parish of Kilkenny West in County Westmeath. The family moved to nearby parsonage at Lissoy, and continued to live there until his father's death in 1747. From Goldsmith's own memoirs, it is apparent that his childhood under his minister-father was an unhappy one, and the young boy spent most of his time alone, keeping to himself and reading. | |
| − | Goldsmith earned his Bachelor of Arts in | + | Goldsmith earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1749 at Trinity College, Dublin, studying theology and law but never getting as far as ordination. Goldsmith recalled his years at Trinity College as being some of the gloomiest of his life. After three aimless years in Ireland, Goldsmith crossed the channel to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh. After concluding his brief studies at Edinburgh, and despite having almost no money, Goldsmith somehow undertook a long tour of the European continent. On his return four years later, in 1756, he settled in London, where he worked numerous oddjobs. Perennially in debt and addicted to gambling, Goldsmith found his financial niche when he took up a job as a hack writer—producing huge quantities of (generally poor) translations and other articles. He was able to produce a massive output of hack writing for the publishers of London, and he began to attract fame with some of the more painstaking works he produced during this period. His career among the intellectual elite is generally regarded to begin with the 1759 publication of ''Enquiry into the Present State of Polite Learning in Europe'', which earned him the admiration of [[Samuel Johnson]], along with whom he was a founding member of "The Club". Among members of the club, Goldsmith was notorious for his ugliness, his Irish brogue, and his complete ineptitude in spoken conversation. Dr. Johnson famously quipped that "No man was more foolish when he had not a pen in his hand, or more wise when he had," and Goldsmith would become one of Johnson's constant companions, featuring prominently in Boswell's ''Life of Johnson'' as a major character in his own right. The combination of Goldsmith's literary genius with his ineptitude in spoken conversation led [[Horace Walpole]] to give him the much quoted epithet of "The Inspired Idiot". |
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He was buried in [[Temple Church]]; his death in 1774 may have been partly caused by his own misdiagnosis of his condition. There is a monument to him in [[Westminster Abbey]] with an [[epitaph]] written by Samuel Johnson. | He was buried in [[Temple Church]]; his death in 1774 may have been partly caused by his own misdiagnosis of his condition. There is a monument to him in [[Westminster Abbey]] with an [[epitaph]] written by Samuel Johnson. | ||
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== Notable works == | == Notable works == | ||
Revision as of 18:53, 21 September 2006
Oliver Goldsmith (November 10, 1730(?) – April 4, 1774) was an Anglo-Irish author and one of the most versatile English writers of the 18th-century. Goldsmith wrote poetry, plays, essays, fiction, journalism, histories, biographies, and more. Although a good portion of Goldsmith's vast oeuvre is considered uneven by today's standards, a sizeable handful of his works in various genres are considered 18th-century classics, including his novel The Vicar of Wakefield, his pastoral poem The Deserted Village, his collection of semi-fictional essays Citizen of the World, and his popular comic play, She Stoops To Conquer. Goldsmith was a contemporary and confidant of Dr. Johnson and the two writers often exchanged ideas, leading to perhaps one of the most fruitful intellectual partnerships in 18th-century English letters. Goldsmith became a member of "The Club", one of the most influential circles of literary and intellectual figures in the 18th-century, associating with Sir Joshua Reynolds, Edmund Burke, and James Boswell. Although he is not as popular as he once was, Goldsmith remains one of the major writers of 18th-century England; he is still acclaimed by many critics for his effortlessly masterful prose-style that makes even his slightest works eminently readable. Greatly respected by the writers of his own time, Goldsmith is one of the luminaries of his period.
Life
Goldsmith was born in the townland of Pallas, near Ballymahon, County Longford, Ireland, where his father, the Rev. Charles Godlsmith, was curate of the parish of Forgney. When Goldsmith was aged two, his father was appointed rector of the parish of Kilkenny West in County Westmeath. The family moved to nearby parsonage at Lissoy, and continued to live there until his father's death in 1747. From Goldsmith's own memoirs, it is apparent that his childhood under his minister-father was an unhappy one, and the young boy spent most of his time alone, keeping to himself and reading.
Goldsmith earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1749 at Trinity College, Dublin, studying theology and law but never getting as far as ordination. Goldsmith recalled his years at Trinity College as being some of the gloomiest of his life. After three aimless years in Ireland, Goldsmith crossed the channel to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh. After concluding his brief studies at Edinburgh, and despite having almost no money, Goldsmith somehow undertook a long tour of the European continent. On his return four years later, in 1756, he settled in London, where he worked numerous oddjobs. Perennially in debt and addicted to gambling, Goldsmith found his financial niche when he took up a job as a hack writer—producing huge quantities of (generally poor) translations and other articles. He was able to produce a massive output of hack writing for the publishers of London, and he began to attract fame with some of the more painstaking works he produced during this period. His career among the intellectual elite is generally regarded to begin with the 1759 publication of Enquiry into the Present State of Polite Learning in Europe, which earned him the admiration of Samuel Johnson, along with whom he was a founding member of "The Club". Among members of the club, Goldsmith was notorious for his ugliness, his Irish brogue, and his complete ineptitude in spoken conversation. Dr. Johnson famously quipped that "No man was more foolish when he had not a pen in his hand, or more wise when he had," and Goldsmith would become one of Johnson's constant companions, featuring prominently in Boswell's Life of Johnson as a major character in his own right. The combination of Goldsmith's literary genius with his ineptitude in spoken conversation led Horace Walpole to give him the much quoted epithet of "The Inspired Idiot".
He was buried in Temple Church; his death in 1774 may have been partly caused by his own misdiagnosis of his condition. There is a monument to him in Westminster Abbey with an epitaph written by Samuel Johnson.
Notable works
- The Citizen of the World (1762)
- The Traveller (1764)
- The Vicar of Wakefield (1766)
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- The Vicar of Wakefield, ISBN 0-19-283940-3
- She Stoops to Conquer, ISBN 0-486-26867-5
- Life of Oliver Goldsmith, by Washington Irving, ISBN 1-58963-236-2
- The Complete Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith by Austin Dobson (Editor), ISBN 1-58827-277-X
- Oliver Goldsmith (Everyman's Poetry Series) edited by Gordon Campbell, ISBN 0-460-87827-1
- George Rousseau (1974), Goldsmith: The Critical Heritage (London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1974). ISBN 710077203 Template:Please check ISBN
External links
- Works by Oliver Goldsmith. Project Gutenberg
- The Deserted Village
- Oliver Goldsmith: A Biography by Washington Irving from Project Gutenberg
- Goldsmith (English Men of Letters series) by William Black from Project Gutenberg
- An Essay on the Theatre; or, A Comparison Between Laughing and Sentimental Comedy
- Goldsmith Hall - student accommodation and lecture theatre, Trinity College, Dublin.
- Information on Goldsmith
- Oliver Goldsmith Resource
Credits
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