A review by bev_reads_mysteries
The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith

2.0

It occurs to me that I may be more of an 18th century drama person than an 18th century fiction person--at least at this time of my life. Here in the 40s I have read Tristram Shandy (by Sterne) and now The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith and I must say that I am underwhelmed. Give me She Stoops to Conquer or School for Scandal any day. Vicar has been touted in various places as being humorous and witty. I'm afraid I'm just not seeing the humor and wit in this tale about a somewhat prosperous vicar and his family who fall out of fortune and into hard times before suddenly (miraculously!) having an extraordinarily happy ending. The vicar is quite moralistic and quite boring when he gets on one of his sermonizing streaks (and he's generally not in the pulpit at the time....). And the middle of the book drags (on and on and on). Things pick up a bit at the end--but the unlikely and rapid way that all is made happy and perfect kind of ruins it for me.

I just don't have a lot to say about this one. I am much more admiring of Goldsmith's wit and humor in She Stoops to Conquer. He provides much entertainment in the misunderstandings and family intrigues in that play. There is, in my opinion, little entertainment in this particular novel. Two stars.

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