** spoiler alert ** Hardy is a master of tragedy, his characters suffer due to circumstances and their own actions driven by their character. I read "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" before this novel, and even though I think Tess is a better novel, more luminescent writing and Hardy cranks the tragedy to 11 in that, Casterbridge is still a fine novel. Henchard destroys himself, mostly because of pride, and helped by fate. He's rash in some moods, acting in ways that burns his conscience afterward. He's larger than life in some ways, and so his mistakes are also larger than most. His fall into disgrace and anonymity is mostly self driven.

And yet, I couldn't help but like him. Farfrae is almost too much a foil to have much personality, he's Henchard's opposite in nearly every way, and yet he's not unlikeable, just not likable, despite Hardy's almost musical accent he imparts upon the Scotsman. Henchard's imperfections make him interesting, Farfrae's perfections don't.

Also, unlike Tess, Casterbridge's heroine has a happy ending. I almost get the impression that even though Hardy is pessimistic, he doesn't quite believe his own pessimism. But he makes up for that doubt with Tess.

Casterbridge is a complex novel because of Henchard. Hardy sometimes jiggles the plot to keep things going, like Elizabeth-Jane running into Lucetta, but overall Henchard drives the events, and consequences.

Hardy is a bit of an acquired taste, I've only read two of his novels, but I think his works are rewarding. Recommend for fans of Tragedy and human weaknesses.