奥利弗·哥尔德斯密斯的《威克菲尔德的牧师》是英国感伤主义的名作之一，这部名作既是社会小说，又是家庭小说。小说主人公普里姆罗斯博士以人称叙述他一家悲欢离合的经过。他们本属小康之家，待人宽厚，宾至如归。但过于天真，缺乏处世经验，屡遭欺凌。普里姆罗斯受经理他财产的商人之累，不幸破产，只得远离家乡去担任一个小教区的牧师。不久，长女奥利维亚为当地乡绅桑希尔诱骗后又遭遗弃。同时住宅失火，全家几乎无栖身之地，桑希尔又暗使奸计，使牧师无力还债而入狱；次女索菲娅险入歹徒之手：长子因找玷辱他家门风的桑希尔决斗而被捕。正当山穷水尽之时，幸得桑希尔的叔父威廉爵士搭救，绝处逢生。威廉爵士娶索菲娅为妻，取消了桑希尔继承他财产的权利，并把其中的三分之一划归奥利维亚，牧师一家得以团聚。小说一方面描写了社会现实的黑暗和罪恶，另一null
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Chapter 1 The description of the family of Wakefield;
in which a kindred likeness prevails as
well of minds as of persons
Chapter 2 Family misfortunes. The loss Of fortune only
servesto increase the pride of the worthy
Chapter 3 A migration. The fortunate circumstances
of our lives are generally found at last to
be of our own procuring
Chapter 4 A proofthat even the humblest fortune
may grant happiness, which depends
not on circumstance, but constitution
Chapter 5 A new and great acquaintance introduced.
What we place mosthopes upon,
generally proves most fatal
Chapter 6 The happiness of a country;fire-side
Chapter 7 A town wit described. The dullest fellows
may learn to be comical for a night or two
Chapter 8 An amour, which promises little good
fortune, yet may be productive of much
Chapter 9 Two ladies of great distinction introduced.
Superior finery ever seems to confer
superior breeding
Chapter 10 The family endeavours to cope with their
betters. The miseries of the poor when
they attempt to appear above their
circumstances
Chapter 11 The family still resolve to hold up their
heads
Chapter 12 Fortune seems resolved to humble the
fami!y of Wakefield. Mortifications are
often more painful than real calamities
Chapter 13 Mr Burchell is found to be an enemy; for
he has the confidence to give disagreeable
advice
Chapter 14 Fresh mortifications, or a demonstration that
seeming calamities may be real blessings
Chapter 15 All Mr Burchell's villainy at once detected.
The folly of being-over-wise
Chapter 16 The family use art, which is opposed with
still greater
Chapter 17 Scarce any virtue found to resist the power
of long and pleasing temptation
Chapter 18 The pursuit of a father to reclaim a lost
child to virtue
Chapter 19 The description of a person discontented
with thepresent government,, and
apprehensive: of the loss of our liberties
Chapter 20 The history of a philosophic vagabond,
pursuing novelty, but losing content
Chapter 21 The short continuance of friendship amongst
the vicious, which is coeval only with
mutual satisfaction
Chapter 22 Offences are easily pardoned where there
is love at bottom
Chapter 23 None but the guilty can be long and completely
miserable
Chapter 24 Fresh calamities
Chapter 25 No situation, however wretched it seems,
but has some sort of comfort attending it
Chapter 26 A reformation in the gaol. To make laws
complete, they should reward as well
as punish
Chapter 27 The same subject continued
Chapter 28 Happiness and misery rather the result of
prudence than of virtue in this life. Temporal
evils or felicities being regarded by heaven as
things merely in themselves trifling and
unworthy its care in the distribution
Chapter 29 The equal dealings of providence demonstrated
with regard to the happy and the miserable
here below. That from the nature of pleasure
and pain, the wretched must be repaid the
balance of their sufferings in the life
hereafter
Chapter 30 Happier prospects begin to appear. Let us
be inflexible, and fortune will at last change
in our favour
Chapter 31 Former benevolence now repaidwith
unexpected interest
Chapter 32 The conclusion
