First published 1766
Dr Primrose enjoys a comfortable country life until a failed investment destroys his family's fortune. He must relocate his wife and six children to a modest parish on Squire Thornhill's estate. The rakish Squire seduces Primrose's daughter, forcing the clergyman to abandon his new home and pursue them across the countryside. His journey becomes a string of comic disasters. He discovers his long-lost son performing with a traveling theater troupe. He lands in debtor's prison. Each mishap tests his faith and exposes his naive pride. Yet Primrose clings to his religious convictions even as the world seems determined to humble him. His unworldly nature makes him an easy target for rogues and schemers, but his genuine goodness eventually wins through. Goldsmith crafts a gentle satire of 18th-century literary fashions while celebrating the resilience of simple faith.
Genres: fiction, classic-literature, comedy, 19th-century
Vibes: emotional, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, resilience
Setting: Countryside, Parish, Squire Thornhill's Estate
Period: 18th Century
224 pages · Paperback · Penguin Group