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Product Description
This Wordsworth Edition includes an exclusive Introduction and Notes by Dr Claire Seymour, University of Kent at Canterbury.
Under the Greenwood Tree is Hardy's most bright, confident and optimistic novel. This delightful portrayal of a picturesque rural society, tinged with gentle humour and quiet irony, established Hardy as a writer. However, the novel is not merely a charming rural idyll. The double-plot, in which the love story of Dick Dewey and Fancy Day is inter-related with a tragic chapter in the history of Mellstock Choir, hints at the poignant disappearance of a long-lived and highly-valued traditional way of life.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Set around the village of Mellstock deep in Hardy's Wessex Under the Greenwood Tree centres around one man's tussle to get his girl. Perhaps Dick Dewy dreams too high above his station in chasing the new schoolteacher Fancy Day, but he pursues her resolved to shake off her rebuttals. Indeed he seems to be winning until the arrival of Mr Maybold, the new vicar. This is where Hardy affectionate tale of country life really asserts its quality. The villagers, deeply set in their traditions are unsettled by Maybold's plans to replace the "Mellstock Quire" of which Dick's father and grandfather are a part, with a new organ, who it is suggested should be played by Miss Day. The ensuing trepidation which is explored as they approach Maybold with their compromise package is quite magical in quality and the almost happy ending makes this a rare book enjoyed amongst those of us who prefer our characters alive and not dead.
A word of warning. Do persevere. This book contains several archaic names and dialectal constructions. This can be disconcerting at the start but eventually forms part of the quaint isolated rural cadence and paints an almost farcically accurate picture of some of the Mellstock's residents.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is one of my favorite Hardy novels! His vivid descriptions bring the rustic setting, characters, and customs to life. It's like peering through a window into a world gone by. The story weaves together love, social position, and the slow displacement of old traditions with modern conventions. A delightful read!
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The painter Poussin's famous title might stand as a rubric for this lovely book. Hardy views his cast of rustics through the prism of music: the old church stringed instruments choir is to be replaced with the spanking new organ. There is the added romantic interest of young musician Dick Dewy and the female organist, Fancy Day, who is controversially going to play the large mechanical new organ.
This is a story of established customs breaking down through the interloper: a new vicar in town. Structurally divided into Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn, it follows the natural rhythms of the earth and of society. Hardy revels in his descriptive powers.
Filled with nostalgia and that increasingly fashionable concept - "Englishness", and seasoned with wisdom and wit, this is truly fabulous - a mini-masterpice in a similar bag to, say, Mrs. Gaskell's "Cranford".
"Under the Greenwood Tree" was deservedly Hardy's own favourite among his novels.
This is a story of established customs breaking down through the interloper: a new vicar in town. Structurally divided into Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn, it follows the natural rhythms of the earth and of society. Hardy revels in his descriptive powers.
Filled with nostalgia and that increasingly fashionable concept - "Englishness", and seasoned with wisdom and wit, this is truly fabulous - a mini-masterpice in a similar bag to, say, Mrs. Gaskell's "Cranford".
"Under the Greenwood Tree" was deservedly Hardy's own favourite among his novels.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A lovely book
I love this book! It's so funny, it makes me laugh outloud in places, as much as The Irish RM and, oddly enough, Diary of Brigit Jones (and Molesworthy). Read more
Published 3 months ago by R. E. Tyldesley
Under the greenwood Tree
I don't have anything more to say.The book ws in excellent condition. `It arrived promptly.I am very pleased with the service.
Published 8 months ago by Ms. Monica F. Wells
Under the Greenwood Tree
Book cover was in good condition, but had been used as a school textbook and had many pencil comments and underlinings throughout the book. Otherwise a good read.
Published 10 months ago by Cath Stead
Hardy's most charming book
This book is a view of village life in Dorset in the 1800s. Unlike all other Hardy novels it is an uplifting charming tale with a happy ending, full of humour. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Rupert
Value edition
These Wordsworth classics are good value. They are the paperback answer to a Kindle. These were the paperbacks to buy before we downloaded classics onto the Kindle. Read more
Published 16 months ago by E-reader
Great Novel
Am reading this one after finishing Tess of the D'Urbevilles...what a sad book that is. Have read this one before and if you're after some light hearted humour, you have the right... Read more
Published 19 months ago by MISS KEWISH
Under Hardy's standards?
This is my first Thomas Hardy book, recommended as it eases you into his style of writing, and man alive is it a strange style! Read more
Published on 14 Mar 2010 by Sam Quixote
Under Hardy's standards?
This is my first Thomas Hardy book, recommended as it eases you into his style of writing, and man alive is it a strange style! Read more
Published on 12 Feb 2010 by Sam Quixote
A gentle, happy read
Just the book for bedtime reading i.e. not too stimulating, though that is not a criticism. The characters are delightful and finely drawn and very credible in a nineteenth... Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2010 by Teresa Graham
A Timeless Classic
I adore Thomas Hardy's work. I recently re- read this beautiful novel. Under the Greenwood tree is a poignant little novel. Read more
Published on 20 Feb 2008 by A. Hope
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