The Complete Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

3545

Title

The Complete Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This volume presents the complete poetry of Oliver Goldsmith, a celebrated Irish writer known for his wit and sentimentalism. Featuring major works like 'The Traveller' and 'The Deserted Village,' this collection offers a poignant exploration of rural life, social commentary, and universal human emotions through lyrical verse.

Summary up to 500 words

Oliver Goldsmith's *The Complete Poetical Works* presents a diverse collection spanning descriptive landscapes, lyrical reflections, and sharp social satire. Central to this volume are his major narrative poems, most notably *The Traveller*, which contrasts the serene solitude of nature against the moral corruption found in civilized society, and *The Deserted Village*, a poignant elegy mourning the displacement of rural communities caused by agricultural enclosures. Beyond these serious works, the collection features lighter pastoral romances like *Edwin and Angelina* and various epilogues written for his dramatic plays, including the famous *She Stoops to Conquer*. Goldsmith's poetic style masterfully blends classical influences with accessible language, addressing enduring themes of poverty, love, death, and the passage of time. His verses often display a profound empathy for the suffering poor while maintaining a humorous or ironic tone in his social critiques. The book also includes lesser-known pieces, translations, and fragments alongside an introduction detailing Goldsmith's erratic life journey from Ireland to Europe. Through these poems, Goldsmith captures the essence of 18th-century sensibility, balancing melancholy with hope and offering timeless insights into the human condition. His biography, woven into the context of his work, reveals a man of great sensitivity who faced financial instability and personal ridicule yet maintained his artistic integrity. Whether writing satirical verses for medical disputes or tender songs from *The Vicar of Wakefield*, Goldsmith's output reflects a unique ability to find beauty in hardship and truth in fiction.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Poetry