The Primrose family faces a series of catastrophic financial and social misfortunes that test their moral fortitude and resilience. Dr. Charles Primrose, a benevolent and somewhat naive clergyman, leads his family through a sequence of trials after losing his fortune. He must navigate the predatory schemes of local aristocrats and the shifting social dynamics of rural England while attempting to maintain his integrity. The narrative is presented as a first-person account by the Vicar himself, detailing the family's descent from prosperity to imprisonment and their eventual attempts at restoration. The story operates within the constraints of 18th-century social hierarchies and the rigid expectations of clerical conduct.

Readers and critics often note the work's unique blend of gentle humor and harsh social critique. Discussion frequently centers on the Vicar's character, as his persistent optimism is viewed by some as admirable and by others as a source of his own undoing. The pacing is described as episodic, reflecting the chaotic nature of the family's misfortunes. Many highlight the book's role as a parody of the sentimental fiction popular during the period, noting how Goldsmith subverts expectations of the genre. The atmosphere is consistently grounded in the domestic sphere, providing a clear window into the social values of the era.