The Mayor of Casterbridge (Oxford World's Classics)
by Thomas Hardy
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Read in September, 2007
I give it five stars because it seems nearly a perfect example of its type of craft. This book has an intertwined and flawless plot that is never overcomplicated; it is full of wonderful language, rich with regional variation, for instance the tenor of Donald Farfrae's Scottish is exceptionally musical and not like the speech of his peers. There were moments reading this book I felt so much under the sway of the author's power that I could observe him wirte himself into one tight plot corner and...more
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Read in April, 1985
recommends it for:
Anyone
This was one of six books that I had to read for English Literature 'O' Level. Of the six it was the only one I enjoyed; and let me say I really enjoyed it. My mother reckons I like Hardy because she was reading Jude the Obscure when she was pregnant with me, and she may have a point, but all I know is that this was the first of Hardy's works I read. Since then I have read almost his entire oeuvre, not including the poetry, of which I have only read a little. The Dynasts is, however, on the read...more
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Read in April, 2008
In a prologue like first chapter, a drunken Michael Henchard sells his wife and daughter to the highest bidder, and the woman and girl go off with a traveling sailor. The rest of the book takes place many years later. Henchard has managed to rise to be a wealthy and prominent citizen of Casterbridge, and is the Mayor. Then his long gone wife and daughter return unexpectedly. Also involved are a briliant and charming young Scotsman and a woman from a nearby town that Henchard took advantage o...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in April, 2008
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recommended to Iris by:
It's in my syllabus, actually.
recommends it for: Classic Literature lovers
recommends it for: Classic Literature lovers
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Read in October, 2005
This, I think, is my favorite book. The plot is a bit "melodrama" at points--but my compassion for Henchard still lives in me. I love the affection that all of the characters are portrayed with; and I love the deep sense of nostalgia for the ways and simplicity of life portrayed in the book. I think the book is a tragedy--but I still haven't quite figured out what the real nature of that tragedy is. Hardy, in my opinion, is a genius of a kind that is particularly appealing to me, on a ...more
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Read in January, 2008
I was very pleasantly surprised. I listened to the unabridged tape. The story has surprising twists and turns, is well written and easy to understand and keeps your attention. It was published in 1866 and conveys the lifestyle of an English village before the industrial revolution. It catches your attention right from the start by an impoverished drunken young man selling his wife one evening at a fair and waking up the next morning regretting it and vowing to turn his life around and not to dri...more
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"That Elizabeth-Jane Farfrae be not told of my death, or made to grieve on account of me. "& that I be not bury'd in consecrated ground. "& that no sexton be asked to toll the bell. "& that nobody is wished to see my dead body. "& that no murners walk behind me at my funeral. "& that no flours be planted on my grave, "& that no man remember me. "To this I put my name.
Michael Henchard last message before dieing. You are actually ...more
Michael Henchard last message before dieing. You are actually ...more
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This is among the saddest stories I've ever read.
I first read it when I was 14-15 and till today I always cry at the end every time i read this:
"That Elizabeth-Jane Farfrae be not told of my death, or made to grieve on account of me and that I be not buried in consecrated ground and that no sexton be asked to toll the bell and that nobody is allowed to see my dead body and that no mourners walk behind me at my funeral and that no flowers be planted on my grave, and that no man remember
I first read it when I was 14-15 and till today I always cry at the end every time i read this:
"That Elizabeth-Jane Farfrae be not told of my death, or made to grieve on account of me and that I be not buried in consecrated ground and that no sexton be asked to toll the bell and that nobody is allowed to see my dead body and that no mourners walk behind me at my funeral and that no flowers be planted on my grave, and that no man remember
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Read in July, 2007
Very easy to read book and hard to put down. The story starts with a young man selling his wife and baby girl to a sailor after he gets drunk. Years later the daughter and her mother turn up. The young man is now the Mayor and very wealthy and the family are reunited. However there are a number of secrets which come out later in the book as well as the main theme of unrequited love and tragic death. However things turn out alright in the end, except maybe for the Mayor.
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Read in March, 2008
Secrets abound in Casterbridge and the various surrounding towns and villages. But the truth is too difficult to deny for any of the perpetrators who would attempt to hide from it. The past has a way of resurfacing in this story of jealousy and pride, and rumors and schemes often backfire inevitably hurting the innocent.
I really enjoyed reading this. It had lots of twists and turns that I didn't find predictable at all.
I really enjoyed reading this. It had lots of twists and turns that I didn't find predictable at all.
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Read in February, 2008
This was a fabulous book for people intruiged by (a) mid-1800s English literature and (b) character depth and development. Although a tragedy in part, I loved this book--couldn't put it down, in fact. It takes some concentration, at least it did for me, because of the language and descriptions, but very worth your time. Oh, and I wanted to wring Michael Henchard's neck pretty much the entire time, but that's probably normal.
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Read in April, 2008
Very engrossing melodrama, vibrant leading character, and impressive and realistic insights into the psychology of ordinary people. I kept picturing the grandiose Henchard as Daniel Day Lewis in There Will Be Blood. Hardy is becoming one of my favorite writers, although this book relies a lot on coincidence for its momentum and is less lyrical than Tess of the d'Ubervilles. Off to pick up Jude the Obscure next!
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Read in January, 1975
recommends it for:
Anyone
This is my favourite of Hardy's works.
What a rollercoaster ride he puts us on.
I remember the tears dropping on my exmination paper when I was describing the little yellow canary, whilst taking my 'O' level in English Literature.....and how many times had I read it before?
Hardy always gets to the soul of his characters and he certainly gets to the soul of his readers.
An amazing read!
What a rollercoaster ride he puts us on.
I remember the tears dropping on my exmination paper when I was describing the little yellow canary, whilst taking my 'O' level in English Literature.....and how many times had I read it before?
Hardy always gets to the soul of his characters and he certainly gets to the soul of his readers.
An amazing read!
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Great book, and, for some reason, one of Hardy's lesser read works. I love antiheros and flawed protagonists, and Michael Henchard is one of the best, most richly drawn characters of this type in English literature. He's infuriating but also admirable. A rare character. This book is about learning from life's mistakes and has some truly beautiful passages that really stay with you.
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Read in January, 1994
I think this might be very nearly a perfect novel. I read this after I had tired of Tess and the histrionics of Jude the Obscure, and it won me back to Hardy and Victorian literature. Hardy hit the nail on the head with his observation and depiction of Michael Henchard as the epitome of the tragic hero. Really a brilliant piece of writing.
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I really do think this might be the perfect novel, or at least as close to a perfect novel as I can ever hope to read. I read this when I was fifteen and, even though I didn't even get a lot of the more subtly stuff, it taught me a lot. Hardy portrayed a character that was, for most of the book, utterly unlikable, without demonizing him.
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Read in January, 2005
I loved this book. After you read this book, I suggest getting the A&E version of the movie. I would do the same thing with Tess of the D'urbevilles too. I love Thomas Hardy. If you like the occasional tragic novel where there is no happy ending tied up with a pretty bow, (very like real life) then I suggest you read something by him.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
those who would otherwise be reading a romance novel.
Oh, Thomas Hardy, you make me so, so, sad. Life is hard, and people suffer, and I get that...but you keep wanting to drive that point home, don't you? A high point, a star twinkling out from all the shrouded mists of sadness, you include some amazing character studies, and paint an interesting picture of pre Industrial England.
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I have read that Thomas Hardy wrote books to prove or point out that fate is in control in our lives no matter what we do. But I found the opposite lesson from this book. It seemed to me that he proved that our choices in life affect the outcome. I found this book very interesting and enjoyed the twists and turns it held.
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