Oliver Goldsmith, Playwright, Novelist and Poet, Born

Oliver Goldsmith (10 November 1728 – 4 April 1774) was a well-known Anglo-Irish novelist, playwright, dramatist and poet, who is noted for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield (1766), his pastoral poem The Deserted Village (1770), and his plays The Good-Natur’d Man (1768) and She Stoops to Conquer (1771, first performed in 1773). He is thought by some to have written the classic children’s tale The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes (1765).

Oliver Goldsmith, was born in Pallas, County Longford, Ireland, on November 10, 1728

Some of his most famous and enduring works include:

1. The Vicar of Wakefield (1766): This novel is one of Goldsmith’s most celebrated works. It tells the story of Dr. Charles Primrose, the vicar of the title, and his family’s experiences and misadventures. The novel combines humor, sentimentality, and social commentary.

2. She Stoops to Conquer (1773): This is Goldsmith’s most famous play. It is a comedy of manners and a farce that pokes fun at social conventions and misunderstandings. The play is still performed and enjoyed today.

3. The Deserted Village (1770): This is one of Goldsmith’s most famous poems. It laments the depopulation of rural areas and the hardships faced by the rural poor as a result of industrialization and social change.

4. The Traveller (1764): This poem reflects on Goldsmith’s own travels and experiences in Europe and explores themes of human nature, society, and the search for contentment.

5. A History of the Earth and Animated Nature (1774): This was a natural history book, which was well-regarded in its time and demonstrates Goldsmith’s interests in science and education.

6. The Citizen of the World (1762): This is a series of letters and essays that provide social commentary and satire, often in the form of observations made by a fictional Chinese visitor to England.

7. Retaliation (1774): This is a collection of epigrams and epitaphs, showcasing Goldsmith’s wit and humor.