I suppose we'll talk about it at some length during wrap-up, but for the time being perhaps Sir Walter Scott's opinion on VoW might be remembered. "We return to it again and again, and bless the memory of an author who contrives so well to reconcile us to human nature". Besides its natural language and unstilted wit this book is not afraid to put forth human nature in its motley complexity. I'm at a loss how anyone can consider Mrs Primrose, both simple and scheming, a cardboard figure; or Olivia, in fact, about whom I never can make my mind whether she likes (let alone loves) the Squire or mostly has her eye on the chance of her life (this riddle becomes positively glowing at the end :-)). The contradictions of definitions for the good doctor himself have already arisen at the board. Humour? Oh, yes! I welcome every digression from the hackneyed plot (intentionally, brazenly hackneyed, I should say), to enjoy Goldsmith's lively comments on about everything that interested his contemporaries.