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Oliver Goldsmith was born November 10, 1730 in Kilkenny West, County Westmeath, Ireland. Around the time of his birth, his family moved into a considerable home in Lissoy, where Goldsmith spent his childhood. As the son of an Anglo-Irish clergyman, he grew up the fifth of seven children. He attended schools in Elphin, Athlone, and Edgeworthstown and at seven years of age contracted small pox. This is said to be the reason why he was considered such an awkward boy. Goldsmith remained awkward throughout life and with such harsh facial features that not even Sir Joshua Reynolds could soften them with his compassionate brushstrokes. In 1745, Goldsmith entered Trinity College in Dublin as a sizar. He spent his time there unhappily. In 1747, Goldsmith's father, Reverend Charles Goldsmith, passed away. In February of 1749, he earned his B.A. Between 1749 and 1750 it is believed that Goldsmith lived idly at home, and in 1750 he prepared to take holy orders. He was rejected, however, by the Bishop of Elphin, so Goldsmith left Ireland to study medicine in Edinburgh. Though his father was now dead, several of Goldsmith's relatives had undertaken to support him in his pursuit of a medical degree (Britannica). In 1756 he arrived in London worn out and destitute. Here, he came to be known as Dr. Goldsmith-Doctor being the courtesy title for one who held the Bachelor of Medicine-but he took no degree while at Edinburgh nor, so far as anyone knows, during the two-year period when, despite meagre funds, he somehow managed to make his way through Europe (Britannica). While in London, Goldsmith worked as an apothecary's assistant, school usher, physician, and a hack writer-reviewing, translating, and compiling. It remains amazing that this young Irish vagabond, unknown, uncouth, relatively unlearned, and unreliable, was yet able within a few years to climb from obscurity to mix with aristocrats and the intellectual elite of London (Britannica). Such a rise was possible because Goldsmith had one quality, soon noticed by booksellers and the public, that his fellow literary hacks did not possess-the gift of a graceful, lively and readable writing style (Britannica). As of 1757 Goldsmith was working under Ralph Griffiths as an editor for the Monthly Review and also as a proofreader for a local printer. In February of 1758 Goldsmith published a two-volume translation of The Memoirs of a Protestant, Condemned to the Galleys of France for His Religion, by Jean Marteilhe, under the pseudonym of 'James Willington'. From 1759-1761 various writings by Goldsmith appeared in several British publications. Some of these publications include Busy Body, the Ladies' Magazine, the Critical Review and Smollett's British Magazine (Jeffares 13). In 1762 Goldsmith's Citizen of the World was published. With this piece, he had established himself as an essayist. This work was a satirical vision of Western society that portrayed the visit of an Oriental individual to London during the eighteenth century. By 1764 Goldsmith had won a reputation as a poet with The Traveller, whose verses embodied both his memories of tramping through Europe and his political ideas; and in 1770 he confirmed that reputation with the more famous Deserted Village, which contains charming vignettes of rural life while denouncing the evictions of the country poor at the hands of wealthy landowners (Britannica). In 1766, Goldsmith published a novel, The Vicar of Wakefield. Already an accomplished essayist, poet, and novelist, Goldsmith also became known as a playwright. In 1768, The Good Natur'd Man, though not considered much of a success, was introduced, followed by She Stoops to Conquer in 1778. This particular play has outlived almost all other English comedies from the early eighteenth to the late nineteenth century by virtue of its broadly farcical horseplay and vivid, humorous characterizations (Britannica). In addition to his well-known works, Goldsmith published other essays and works of various topics between the years of 1762 and 1774. Late in his life, Goldsmith buried himself deeper and deeper in debt and his earnings as an author became too limited, allegedly due to gambling. Goldsmith died April 4, 1774 in London of fever and kidney trouble. His epitaph, furnished by Samuel Johnson, reads: "Oliver Goldsmith: A Poet, Naturalist, and Historian, who left scarcely any style of writing untouched, and touched nothing that he did not adorn. Of all the passions, whether smiles were to move or tears, a powerful yet gentle master. In genius, vivid, versatile, sublime. In style, clear, elevated, elegant." Tom Kinsella http://caxton.stockton.edu/DesertedVillage/discuss/msgReader$25 |