Thomas Hardy - The Mayor of Casterbridge

[sib]

Set in early nineteenth century England, this is the tale of a man's rise to power and prosperity and his ultimate downfall as a shameful secret comes back to haunt him.

The story starts as the young haytrusser Michael Henchard and his wife and child visit an agricultural fair. Henchard gets drunk and sells his wife to a seaman in a humiliating scene. The next day Henchard starts a desperate search for his wife and child, only to discover that they have emigrated with the sailor.

Years later, after the supposed death of the sailor and Henchard's rise to power as the Mayor of Casterbridge, his wife returns with his now grown-up daughter. What ensues is the story of Henchard's struggle to right the wrongs of the past, his resentment for Donald Farfrae, an employee who becomes a bitter rival in business, love and for the sympathy of his daughter, and Henchard's ultimate downfall.

A good yarn. 7/10

[Angel]

I read this one a couple of years ago (I love Thomas Hardy's books ). I enjoyed this one and was glad to see Henchard get his come uppance at the end.

[sib]

It's the only Thomas Hardy I've read. We read it in GCSE english and I liked it then, and I got a copy from the charity shop not so long ago and enjoyed it the second time.

Think you're abit hard on Henchard. He did try to make amends with his wife. I think he was just a bit of a hothead - his own worst enemy. :vmad:

[Angel]

Perhaps I am He was certainly his own worst enemy and was the victim of his drinking

 

I've read quite a few of Hardy's:-

 

Tess of the D'Urberbevilles

Far From the Madding Crowd

Return of the Native

The Woodlanders

Jude the Obscure (my favourite!!!)

Under the Greenwood Tree

Desperate Remedies

[madcow]

:oops: I'm ashamed to say i've never read any of Hardy's books :oops:

 

But the more I read on here the more I am determined to see what I've been missing.

[Angel]

I've always enjoyed Hardy. I think that he was so good at depicting life in the Victorian times and often liked to shock the reader. This is especially so in Jude the Obscure - when that one was first published, it was burnt in public by the clergy. :shock:

[sib]

I like the way he writes..I think he

[patrick.b]

Even though I am not quite familiar with his other novels, I got to say that Jude the Obscure is one of the best book I've ever had the chance to read over the past years. I'm really looking forward to read the Mayor of Casterbridge. The gloom surrounding Jude Fawley really gives depth to the story.

[KEV67]

I am currently reading this. The chapters are short so it is good for bedtime reading. I once knew a professor of agriculture at Reading University. He said that the problem Michael Henchard had with his wheat at the beginning of the book was the same problem he studied for his PhD thesis. I think the problem was that his wheat had started to malt because of the wet weather. The Scotman's cure was to mix the wheat with some chemical and heat it. It didn't fix it completely, but made it good enough to sell. What is this chemical? The professor did not know, but did not think it was possible. 

[KEV67]

Michael Henchard - what a plonker! That is the short version. I only have two more chapters. I think the remaining nice characters are safe, because it would be breaking the rules to kill them off without some foreshadowing first. Michael Henchard can throw himself off a bridge or not.