Oliver Goldsmith; George Saintsbury [Introduction] — The Vicar of Wakefield

London , Constable and Company Limited; Houghton Mifflin Company, 1926. First edition. Cloth. A first richly illustrated edition of The Vicar of Wakefield, featuring numerous colour plates by Thomas Rowlandson and an introduction by George Saintsbury. In the publisher's original green cloth binding. This is the first edition with Rowlandson"s coloured plates and Saintsbury"s introduction.Complete with 24 charming colour plate illustrations by Thomas Rowlandson, including a frontispiece. Collated, complete.The Vicar of Wakefield is a sentimental novel by Oliver Goldsmith that follows the trials of Dr. Primrose, a kind-hearted but naïve clergyman, and his family as they face a series of misfortunes.Accompanied by a scholarly introduction from distinguished English literary historian, and critic, George Saintsbury.Thomas Rowlandson (1757–1827) was a prolific English artist, caricaturist, and illustrator best known for his satirical and often bawdy depictions of 18th- and early 19th-century British life.Oliver Goldsmith (c. 1728–1774) was an Irish-born author, playwright, poet, and physician, best known for this work. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Externally, very smart. Fading to extremities and spine. The odd minor handling mark to boards. Bookplate from Else Halvorsen to front free endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and clean with slight age toning to rough cut fore edge. Very Good . Ill.: Thomas Rowlandson. Very Good .