1, A Changed Man And Other Tales
Thomas HARDY (1840 - 1928)
Eleven short stories. - Summary by david wales
Genre(s): Short Stories, Published 1900 onward
2. Desperate Remedies
Thomas HARDY (1840 - 1928)
Cytherea
Graye is poor, but accepts a post as lady's maid to the eccentric Miss
Aldclyffe, the woman whom her father had loved but had not been able to
marry. Cytherea in turn loves a young architect, Edward Springrove; but
will Miss Adclyffe's machinations, the knowledge that Edward is already
engaged to a woman whom he does not love, and the urgent need to support
her sick brother drive Cytherea to accept the hand of Aeneas Manston?
Will true love triumph in the end or will she be forced to live a life
of misery with a man she doesn't love? ( Michele Eaton )
Genre(s): General Fiction
3. Far From The Madding Crowd
Thomas HARDY (1840 - 1928)
Far
From The Madding Crowd is Hardy's fourth novel. It centres on the lives
of five characters: Gabriel Oak, Bathsheba Everdene, Mr Boldwood, Sgt.
Troy and Fanny Robin. The plot involves love, loyalty, death and
betrayal and all this is delivered to us in Hardy's most eloquent prose.
The images of character and nature are painted for our mind's eye with
sublime style. Finally, but not least, Hardy's use of the Greek chorus
is unsurpassed in injecting comedy and nudging the story along. (Summary
by Tadhg Hynes)
Proof-Listeners: Joy Easton & Betty M.
Genre(s): General Fiction
4. Jude the Obscure
Thomas HARDY (1840 - 1928)
Eleven-year-old
Jude Fawley, inspired by his teacher Mr. Phillotson, who leaves
Marygreen for Christminster to take a university degree, decides to
adopt the same course for himself. Raised by his great-aunt, he studies
hard with the aid of some old Latin and Greek books sent to him by
Phillotson.He trains as a stonemason in order to enable him to support
himself when at the university. However when he finally arrives in
Christminster he soon finds that a university education is not easily
come by for one of his social standing.Meeting and falling in love with
his cousin Sue Bridehead his future becomes a series of challenges to
his moral, religious and social beliefs.
The novel caused quite a
stir in late Victorian England due in part to it’s depiction of
marriage and the role religion played in it. Savagely criticised on
publication it led to Hardy turning from novel writing and concentrating
for the rest of his career on poetry alone. It’s now considered one of
Hardy’s finest works and is held up as an example of English novel
writing at it’s best.
Summary by T.Hynes.
Genre(s): General Fiction
5. A Laodicean
Thomas HARDY (1840 - 1928)
The
Laodicean (someone whose religious beliefs are “lukewarm”) of the title
is Paula Power who bought the ancient castle De Stancy which she is
determined to restore. Being of a modern frame of mind, she has the
telegraph connected to the castle – and uses it all the time in the
course of the story.
George Somerset is a young architect who is
invited to compete for the chance of the commission to restore the
castle and who falls in love with Paula.
However, the brother of
Paula’s great friend Charlotte De Stancy – of the aristocratic family
that once owned the castle – aided by his villainous illegitimate son,
sets out to win Paula for himself.
Although Paula likes the idea
of being a De Stancy, she is drawn to George from the start. The various
machinations of De Stancy and his son keep the narrative moving along
at a fast pace.
Summary by Simon Evers
Genre(s): Epistolary Fiction
6. The Mayor of Casterbridge (version 3)
Thomas HARDY (1840 - 1928)
In
a fit of drunkenness, Michael Henchard sells his wife and baby daughter
to the highest bidder at a country fair. He lives with regret and
swears off drink, until his wife and daughter return eighteen years
later, when he is now well-off and the Mayor of Casterbridge. - Summary
by Alisson Veldhuis
Genre(s): Literary Fiction
7. A Pair of Blue Eyes
Thomas HARDY (1840 - 1928)
The
book describes the love triangle between a young woman, Elfride
Swancourt, and her two suitors from very different backgrounds. Stephen
Smith is a socially inferior but ambitious young man who adores her and
with whom she shares a country background. Henry Knight is the
respectable, established, older man who represents London society.
(Summary by Wikipedia)
Genre(s): General Fiction, Romance
8. The Return of the Native
Thomas HARDY (1840 - 1928)
Like
all of Hardy's work, The Return of the Native (1878) is passionate and
controversial, with themes and sympathies beyond what a good Victorian
would ever admit. A modern and honest novel of chance and choice, faith
and infidelities, this dark story asks what is free will and what is
fate? What is the true nature of nature, and how do we fit together? Can
we fit together?
A tragedy set in the barren land of Edgon
Heath. Our heroine, Eustacia, is proud, passionate, cruel, fickle,
avaricious, and desperate. She burns every life she touches, never able
to find the mad love and exotic world she dreams of. Our supposed hero,
Clym, is modest, steady, plain, moral, and dutiful. He is satisfied
returning from Paris to the simple comfort of home.
When they come together, the Heath will come apart.
Originally
released as five books, in classic tragic form, a sixth, tacking on a
'happy ending', was added by editor and public pressure. (Summary by
Marlo Dianne)
Genre(s): General Fiction
9. Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Thomas HARDY (1840 - 1928)
"Tess
of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented" is a novel by
Thomas Hardy, first published in 1891. It initially appeared in a
censored and serialised version, published by the British illustrated
newspaper, The Graphic. Though now considered an important work of
English literature, the book received mixed reviews when it first
appeared, in part because it challenged the sexual mores of Hardy's day.
The original manuscript is on display at the British Library, showing
that it was originally titled "Daughter of the d'Urbervilles." (Summary
by Wikipedia)
This project was DPLed by Bead Krazy Dawn and pwaugh68
Genre(s): General Fiction
10. The Trumpet Major
Thomas HARDY (1840 - 1928)
Our
heroine, Anne Garland, lives quietly in a rural community deep in the
English countryside. However, the arrival of several regiments preparing
for an expected invasion brings colour and chaos to the county. A
graceful and charming young woman, Anne is pursued by three suitors:
John Loveday, the trumpet-major in a British regiment, honest and loyal;
his brother Robert, a merchant seaman and womaniser, and Festus
Derriman, the cowardly son of the local squire. Set at the time of the
Napoleonic wars, this is the author's only historical novel, and
unusually for Hardy's books, some of the characters live happily ever
after. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia by Cori Samuel.)
Genre(s): Published 1800 -1900
11. Two On A Tower
Thomas HARDY (1840 - 1928)
The
plot concerns two – literally starcrossed – lovers: Swithin St. Cleeve,
a very young amateur astronomer, and Viviette Constantine, an unhappily
married and abandoned woman 8 or 9 years his senior. Each night Swithin
climbs the old tower of the title, in the grounds of the Constantine
estate. Lady Constantine, whose husband has been absent some years on an
extended hunting and exploring journey to Africa, joins the young man
in his stargazing, and supports his astronomical ambitions by buying him
equipment, though his dreams of scientific renown are disappointed.
Their relationship then deepens and takes several twists and
turns.(Summary by Tadhg)
Genre(s): General Fiction, Romance
12. Under the Greenwood Tree
Thomas HARDY (1840 - 1928)
This
novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch
School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at
the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy,
who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day.
Another
element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of
the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church
organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being
introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country
ways.
The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often
seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the
Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah.
(Summary by Rachel Lintern)
Genre(s): Romance, Published 1800 -1900
13. The Well-Beloved
Thomas HARDY (1840 - 1928)
'The
Well-Beloved' tells the story of Jocelyn Pierston and his love for
three generations of women - the grandmother, her daughter and
grand-daughter over a period of forty years. Pierston is seeking for
perfection in his choice of lover and in doing so lets opportunities for
happiness pass him by. However, at the end of his life, he finds some
kind of contentment in compromise. (Summary by Simon Evers)
Genre(s): General Fiction
14. The Woodlanders
Thomas HARDY (1840 - 1928)
The
Woodlanders is one of Hardy's later novels, although he originally
intended it as a successor to Far From The Madding Crowd. It concerns
the life and loves of Giles Winterborne, Grace Melbury, Edred Fitzpiers,
Felice Charmond and Marty South. The topics of class, fidelity and
loyalty are dealt with in Hardy's exquisite style and set in the
beautiful woodlands of Hintock (T.Hynes)
Genre(s): Romance, Published 1800 -1900
15. Wessex Tales
Thomas HARDY (1840 - 1928)
Wessex
Tales is a collection of six short stories written by Hardy in the
1880’s. If you’ve never read Hardy they’ll serve as a good introduction
to his writing. Though not as comprehensive as his major works they do
contain all the ingredients that make him instantly recognisable.
(Introduction by T. Hynes.)
Genre(s): General Fiction, Short Stories