Thomas Hardy
Regarded as a towering figure in nineteenth-century British literature, Thomas Hardy ranks among the most acclaimed of the Victorian realists. Though he achieved more popular success for works such as Far From the Madding Crowd and Tess of the d'Urbervilles, most critics now see The Mayor of Casterbridge as Harding's crowning accomplishment. This novel traces the ascension of Michael Henchard from a hardscrabble manual laborer
...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
...Dive into a classic work from the author responsible for beloved novels such as Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Far from the Madding Crowd. Combining elements of romance and psychological suspense, A Pair of Blue Eyes is a rewarding and enthralling read.
Dip a toe into the literary oeuvre of British novelist and poet Thomas Hardy in this well-curated collection of some of his best short stories. Hardy was famed for his ability to create characters who struggle mightily against social mores and circumstances beyond their control, and this strength shines in the finely drawn characters who populate these tales.
Dive into a classic tale of romance from the mind of the writer who penned such favorites as Far from the Madding Crowd and Tess of the d'Urbervilles. This story is set in the rural village of Little Hintock and follows the troubled romance between Giles Winterborne and his longtime love Grace Melbury. Though Winterborne is determined to marry his childhood sweetheart, social conventions and prying family members stand in the way.
...Many of Thomas Hardy's best-known works of fiction were set in the Dorset region, which he called "Wessex." Many of these poems, written over a period of 30 years, are also set in and deeply influenced by the Wessex landscape. Although Hardy considered himself to be more a poet than a novelist, this was his first published collection of verse.
Through a fortuitous series of events, brave Ethelberta has risen from a humble family background to marry well, travel the world, and emerge as a popular poet and author. Will she be able to overcome her lower-class roots and make her way in the world when her husband's untimely demise leaves her wholly in charge of her own fortune?
From the acclaimed author of works such as Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Far From the Madding Crowd comes the novel The Trumpet-Major, which combines the backdrop of wartime with the aching intensity of Harding's best work about love relationships. Fans of historical fiction that is humanized by plotlines that focus on personal relationships should heed the call of The Trumpet-Major.
The wilds of Egdon Heath seems like a prison to Eustacia Vye, cut off from the world in her grandfather's lonely cottage. When Clym Yeobright returns from the glittering lights of Paris, he seems to offer everything she dreams of: passion, excitement, and the opportunity to escape. However, Clym's ambitions are quite different from hers, and marriage only increases Eustacia's destructive restlessness...