Oliver Goldsmith in Context

Engages with Goldsmith's social and literary contexts to illuminate his major influence both in the eighteenth century and subsequently.

Michael Griffin (Edited by), David O'Shaughnessy (Edited by)

9781316518915, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 7 November 2024

376 pages
23.5 x 15.9 x 2.6 cm, 0.69 kg

'Oliver Goldsmith, the author of literary masterpieces in three genres (fiction, poetry, and drama), has never received the comprehensive treatment of other 18th-century British writers, whose careers have long been mapped. This volume fully remedies that inequity with a well-designed presentation of Goldsmith's works in the literary, social, intellectual, and cultural contexts of his time.… Highly recommended.' E. Kraft, CHOICE

Oliver Goldsmith has a claim to be the only eighteenth-century author who wrote canonical works in prose fiction, poetry, and drama. An Irish writer working at the centre of the British and Irish Enlightenments, with all the rich complications of identity this entailed, he authored The Vicar of Wakefield, The Deserted Village, and She Stoops to Conquer, works that number among the greatest literary productions of the century. He was also a major historian, biographer, journalist, and translator operating at the heart of literary London. Through four sections covering Goldsmith's Life and Career; Social, Cultural, and Intellectual Contexts; Literary Contexts; and Critical Fortunes and Afterlives, this volume engages with a wide range of illuminating topics that will allow both new and experienced readers of Goldsmith to understand more deeply the impact he had on his times and the powerful influence he exerted on subsequent literary culture.

Part I. Life and Career: 1. Life Michael Griffin
2. Letters David O'Shaughnessy
3. Friendships and feuds Norma Clarke
4. Booksellers and the book trade Richard C. Taylor
Part II. Social, Cultural and Intellectual Contexts: 5. Enlightenments Michael Brown
6. Universities David A. Fleming
7. Libraries Paul Goring
8. The club Ian Newman
9. Irish London John Bergin
10. Liberty Nigel Wood
11. Cosmopolitanism James Watt
12. Marriage Aileen Douglas
13. Gender Rebecca Anne Barr
14. Race Kerry Sinanan
15. Religion James Bryant Reeves
16. Natural history and science Melissa Bailes
17. War and empire Robert W. Jones
18. Ghosts María Losada-Friend
Part III. Literary Contexts: 19. Fiction Ian Campbell Ross
20. Theatre Gillian Russell
21. Pastoral poetry Dustin Griffin
22. Prospect poetry Katherine Turner
23. Periodicals and literary reviewing Manushag N. Powell
24. History writing Ben Dew
25. Authorship Maureen Harkin
26. Orientalism Eun Kyung Min
27. Satire and sentiment Lynn Festa
28. The sister arts Timothy Erwin
29. Music and song Moyra Haslett
30. France and French writing Amy Prendergast
Part IV. Critical Fortunes and Afterlives: 31. Editions Will Bowers
32. Critical reception before 1900 Megan Kitching
33. Critical reception after 1900 James Ward
34. Afterlives 1: the Victorian vicar Jarlath Killeen
35. Afterlives 2: theatre David Clare
36. Afterlives 3: poetry Alfred Lutz.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: general [DSB]