Thomas Hardy
Desperate Remedies is Hardy's first book, which he published anonymously. It foreshadows many of Hardy's favorite themes including the predominant role played by nature in all of his work. It tells the story of a lady's maid who marries a charismatic and manipulative steward only to discover her true love was free to marry. And that her husbands first wife still lives.
'To be loved to madness—such was her great desire.' The Return of the Native is Hardy's most popular novel. Clym Yeobright is the "native" who returns to Egdon Heath from his studies in Paris. Clym is soon caught up in a troubled relationship with Eustacia Vye, a darkly complicated young woman who hopes to escape her dreary existence on the Heath for an exciting life in Paris. Several other characters as well are soon caught up in a web of
...Thomas Hardy's novel of seduction and abandonment introduced his most memorable tragic heroine, the unworldly maiden Tess. On her morning journey to earn money for her impoverished family, Tess' horse has an accident, forcing her to seek assistance from some newly rich relatives. There, she is vigorously pursued by Alec, who corners her in a field one night and takes advantage of her. After bearing a child who quickly dies, Tess meets and falls
...Tess of the d'Urbervilles is a harrowing critique of social class and the powerlessness of women. Tess, a beautiful young woman, is pushed on her rich "relatives" by her grasping father. When the young Lord does with her as he likes, Tess's whole life falls into ruins from which she attempts to free herself. The novel met with mixed reviews upon publication, because it challenged the precepts of society. It is now considered a classic of
...11) Jude the Obscure
Jude Fawley is a stone mason with a passion for scholarship who longs to study at the nearby university town of Christminster. Then Arabella Donn comes into his life. His longing for her eclipses all else for a time, and they marry but unhappily. Meeting his spirited and intelligent cousin, Sue Bridehead, Jude dares to dream again. But in acknowledging their feelings for one another, Jude and Sue risk becoming social outcasts. In defying conventional
...Thomas Hardy – The Short Stories - An Introduction. Many giants of Literature originate from the shores of these emerald isles; Shakespeare, Dickens, Chaucer, The Brontës and Austen to which most people would willingly add the name Thomas Hardy. Far From The Madding Crowd, Tess Of The D'Urbervilles, The Mayor Of Casterbridge are but three of his literary masterpieces. But let us add to this his short stories. They are often overlooked as
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