What kinds of books did Oliver Goldsmith compile to earn money?

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Oliver Goldsmith Oliver Goldsmith, oil painting from the studio of Sir Joshua Reynolds, 1770; in the National Portrait Gallery, London

To manage his persistent debts and financial instability, Oliver Goldsmith frequently undertook "hack work," which involved compiling and distilling the writings of others into accessible volumes. These compilations, which he enlivened with his own graceful and readable prose style, included:

Histories: Works covering the histories of England, ancient Rome, and Greece.
Biographies: Various biographical accounts.
Verse Anthologies: Collections of poetry.
Scientific Works: Books focused on popular science.
Translations: Various translated texts.

Although these projects were often created as makeshift solutions to his financial troubles, his talent for writing was such that some of these compilations remained in print well into the 19th century.1