Oliver Goldsmith
Goldsmith countered the sentimental comedy of his era with robust, farcical good humor in She Stoops to Conquer. His diverse output in poetry, fiction, and drama made him one of the most versatile writers of the 18th century.
Works
- The Deserted VillagePastoral elegy mourning the decay of an abandoned English village from industrialization
- The TravellerPhilosophical poem depicting the speaker's travels observing customs and character of nations
- The Vicar of WakefieldNovel of a benevolent country clergyman and his family's misadventures and moral trials
- She Stoops to ConquerComic drama of a woman disguised as a modest maiden to test her suitor's sincerity
- The Good-Natured ManComedy of errors and romantic entanglement resolved through disguise and misunderstanding