Oliver Goldsmith

Born in Ireland and active in London, he became one of the best-known literary figures of the 1700s. He wrote across several forms—poetry, essays, fiction, and drama—and was admired for bringing grace and readability to everything he touched.

His best-known works include The Traveller, The Deserted Village, The Vicar of Wakefield, and She Stoops to Conquer. They show a writer who could be playful and satirical one moment, then deeply humane the next.

He died in 1774, but his reputation endured as that of a versatile author whose writing remained approachable as well as polished. For listeners coming to him now, he offers a lively mix of storytelling, comedy, and insight into 18th-century life.