Origins & Early Life

Oliver Goldsmith (10 November 1728 – 4 April 1774) was an Anglo-Irish poet, novelist, playwright, and hack writer. He produced literary works in a variety of genres and is considered one of the most versatile writers of the Georgian era. His works are known for their realistic depictions of British society, and his comedy plays for the English stage are considered second in importance only to those of playwright William Shakespeare. Credited with introducing sentimentalism in English literature in 18th-century Great Britain, several of Goldsmith's publications are popular classics of the period, including his only novel, The Vicar of Wakefield (1766), and the comedy play She Stoops to Conquer (1773).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He wrote the play The Good-Natur'd Man (1768) and is additionally thought by commentators such as Washington Irving to have written the children's novel The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes (1765), one of the earliest classical works of children's literature. Goldsmith also produced a number of poems during his career, such as The Deserted Village (1770), and contributed to the flourishing of idyllic poetry during the Georgian era. After spending his early years in Dublin, he settled in...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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