- Paperback: 400 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Classics; New Ed edition (26 July 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 014062029X
- ISBN-13: 978-0140620290
- Product Dimensions: 17.9 x 2.6 x 11.1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 177,658 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Mayor of Casterbridge
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Product Description
Product Description
In a fit of drunken anger, Michael Henchard sells his wife and baby daughter for five guineas at a country fair. Over the course of the following years, he manages to establish himself as a respected and prosperous pillar of the community of Casterbridge, but behind his success there always lurk the shameful secret of his past and a personality prone to self-destructive pride and temper. Subtitled ‘A Story of a Man of Character’, Hardy’s powerful and sympathetic study of the heroic but deeply flawed Henchard is also an intensely dramatic work, tragically played out against the vivid backdrop of a close-knit Dorsetshire town.
From the Back Cover
Under the powerful influence of the rum furmity, Michael Henchard, a hay-trusser by trade, sells his wife susan and their child Elizabeth-Jane to Newson, a sailor, for five guineaus.
Years later, Susan, now a widow, arrives in Casterbridge to seek her legal husband. To their surprise, Henchard is now the Mayor of Casterbridge and following the sale of his wife, took a twenty-one-year vow not to drink, out of shame. Henchard remarries Susan and as Elizabeth-Jane believes herself to be Newson's daughter, he adopts her as his own. But he cannot evade his destiny by such measures, for his past refuses to be buried. Fate contrives for him to be punished for the recklessness of his younger days.
In this powerful depiction of a man who overreaches himself, Hardy once again show his acute psycological grasp and his deep-seated knowledge of mid-nineteenth century Dorset.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
From the atmospheric opening "One evening of late summer", this novel captivates the reader with its tale of the tragedy of Henchard. As is typical of Hardy's writing, a minor character is responsible for a major part of the plot. In this case, it is the furmity woman who puts grog in Henchard's broth; eventually resulting in him selling his wife and daughter to a sailor. After initial success in his life, Henchard fails in business and is overtaken by his young apprentice, Farfrae.
Although the novel is chiefly about the failure of Henchard's life, it could also be seen as an allegory for modern life, suggesting that success will only come to those who keep up to date with developments.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
i read this book years ago after my mum suggested Hardy. I was hooked from the start and went on to read many other Hardy books. I shall be re-reading this again as my hard copy is somewhere in the loft and I can't wait. As in all is books, Hardy makes me feel glad to be a woman now and not then.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Loved this book - what a great story showing all the various elements of the human character - greed, love, hate, struggles for power..... I could go on.
It is also a human tragedy, explained at its best by the inimitable Hardy and although it was written many years ago, it does show that human nature remains very much the same as it always was and you could almost put it into a modern setting and alter the scenery a little and it would be up-to-date, so to speak.
All of Hardy's books are great (I was first introduced to them whilst studing for 'O' Levels in the 1950's and have continued to read them again and again since)and although the grammar and syntax are quite dissimilar to that of today they are easy to read and the stories are great.
It is also a human tragedy, explained at its best by the inimitable Hardy and although it was written many years ago, it does show that human nature remains very much the same as it always was and you could almost put it into a modern setting and alter the scenery a little and it would be up-to-date, so to speak.
All of Hardy's books are great (I was first introduced to them whilst studing for 'O' Levels in the 1950's and have continued to read them again and again since)and although the grammar and syntax are quite dissimilar to that of today they are easy to read and the stories are great.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
From a diehard Thomas Hardy fan.
When Michael Henchard a Hay Trusser, gets drunk as a skunk he decides in a moment of madness to auction off his wife and child for 5 guineas. Read more
Published 2 days ago by Neferra
the mayor of casterbridge not bought on the 01.12.2012
After being bought a Kindle for Christmas I have decided to read some classics that I missed in my youth. It is a good service you provide, keep it up.
Published 2 months ago by mikkithfish
Trash
This is by far the worst book that I have ever read.
A guy gets trolleyed on 'Fermity' in a 19th century (? Read more
A guy gets trolleyed on 'Fermity' in a 19th century (? Read more
Published 10 months ago by I. H. Roblin
Downbeat and pessimistic tragedy
This never seems to garner the same loving affection that the other Hardy novels do, perhaps because Michael Henchard is such a difficult man to empathise with. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Roman Clodia
a ripping story
lots of unexpected twists to this pacy story. worth reading for the historical portrait of the time.
Published 19 months ago by barbaranewbury
Fickle fortune..
Beginning a Hardy novel is always something of a bittersweet experience. The characters are slowly and carefully introduced, the scene beautifully and evocatively set and quickly... Read more
Published on 29 Sep 2009 by Alexis Paladin
Addicted
I bought this book reluctantly, not being a fan of fictional books, as it was required as part of the humanities course I am currently studying. Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2008 by Electrikitten
Enjoyable read
I think that Hardy is to English Literature what Dostoyevski was to Russian literature. He excels in his characterisations of people having deep internal struggles that eventually... Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2008 by Censuwine
To review or not to reveiw
It is unfotunate that Hardy must be judged by reviewers brought up on the pulp fiction of our age - but this is an open forum so ... Read more
Published on 20 July 2005 by "ccthompson2"
Accessible Victorian Soap Opera
When it comes to "classics" of Victorian literature, this is certainly much more readable than most, and while it presents some memorable characters, and plenty of themes worthy of... Read more
Published on 24 Jan 2005 by A. Ross
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