Oliver Goldsmith And His Contribution To World’s Literature

Oliver Goldsmith wrote many popular plays, poems and plays. He is known for his few wonderful writings. He had a though life but still managed to make good pieces of writings. Oliver Goldsmith’s achievements, life experiences, and brilliant bodies of work have led to his reputation as a representative of the many essayist, poets and dramatist in the world of literature. Oliver was born on November 10, 1730 in Kilkenny West, Ireland. He was the son of an Anglo-Irish clergyman. He was one of the seven children in his parents had. When he was born his family moved to a house near Lissoy, Ireland. That’s where he spent his childhood life at. He was a shy and reticent child. Unfortunately, when he was about nine years old he suffered a smallpox attack which left his face scarred for life. He was bullied in school because of the scars on his face. After he recovered from this illness he continued to study in different schools. In 1744 he went to Trinity College Dublin where he spent his unhappy years as an undergraduate, he didn’t make many friends because of his personal ungainliness and crude manners. His intemperance and tendency to dress in bright colors, play music and gambling got him into trouble numerous times.

Oliver was known for his flute playing because he brought his flute almost everywhere with him. He graduated in February 1749 where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree. There is a window pane in that college that he carved his name in and it is preserved up to this date. His father died around the year 1747, so he and the rest of his family relied on a wealthy uncle for support. Olivers relationship with his mother was a complicated one, he later grew estranged from her after his father's death. Oliver didn’t have much money, so he tutored for a while until he lost his position due to an argument with one of his clients. He left Ireland in the autumn of 1752 to study in a medical school at Edinburgh. His father had already passed away but several of his relations had undertaken to support him in his pursuit of a medical degree. He was later known as Dr. Goldsmith. After he became a doctor he left Ireland and began to travel for some years to France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and later England. He was going to go to America, but he missed the ship that was going to take his there, so he just stayed in England. He settled down in London in 1756.

Oliver arrived in London penniless and turned to literature and began to write history books and literary journals. Oliver soon turned his hand to every sort of work. From translating to writing of superficial histories, children's books and general articles. In 1759 he started to help produce articles and essays of criticism for various newspapers and magazines. He contributed to Tobias Smollett's “Critical Review” and made his own book called “An Inquiry to the Present State of Polite Learning in Europe”. He also helped write the “The Busy Body", "The British Magazine” and “The Lady’s Magazine”.