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The Mayor of Casterbridge

By Thomas Hardy
Penguin Classics
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy follows Michael Henchard, a man burdened by a mistake from his past. Seeking redemption, he rises to a powerful position as the mayor in a rural English town. His attempts to make amends are challenged by fate and his own character flaws, resulting in a dramatic and moving exploration of ambition, regret, and the complexities of human nature.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're drawn to engrossing tales of redemption and tragedy set against the vivid backdrop of 19th-century rural England. The story masterfully explores themes of fate, guilt, and transformation through the life of a flawed but compelling character, promising a deep and thought-provoking read.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

In drunken anger, Michael Henchard sells his wife and baby at a country fair. Over the following years, he establishes himself as a pillar of society but his shameful secret is never to leave him. Containing one of Hardy's most memorable characters, the novel also gives a picture of Victorian country life.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! 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. However, behind his success always lurks 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.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy is often praised for its rich portrayal of human life and its exploration of themes such as fate and character. Margaret Drabble notes that Hardy's world remains timeless and impactful. The novel's setting and the complex nature of its characters contribute to its lasting significance in literature.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141439785

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 27 March 2003

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Edited by Keith Wilson

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 326g

Pages: 448

Collections

Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Penguin Black Classics Penguin Books Penguin Classics Penguin Classics: General Fiction Thomas Hardy

About the Author

Thomas Hardy was born in 1840 and wrote both poetry and novels, including The Mayor of Casterbridge, Far From the Madding Crowd and Jude the Obscure. He died in 1928. Keith Wilson is Professor of English at the University of Ottawa and has edited Hardy's Fiddler of the Reels and Other Stories for Penguin Classics.

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