In this article we will review The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy.
Book Plot
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, but behind his success there always lurk 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.
The Mayor of Casterbridge Rating : 3,85
Also book has 393 pages
The Mayor of Casterbridge Review
Michael Henchard, a young and restless farm worker, is accompanied by his wife Susan and their infant daughter Elizabeth-Jane as they search for work in southern England in the early 1830s. After a long journey, they arrive at a country fair in a small village where Michael drinks heavily and ends up selling Susan to a sailor in a drunken stupor. The next morning, he is filled with shame and regret as he realizes what he has done. Nearly two decades later, Michael has become the successful Mayor of Casterbridge, but his past mistake continues to haunt him. He has sworn off alcohol for 21 years, the age he was when he sold his wife. Despite his success, Michael’s life becomes complicated when his long-lost wife Susan returns with their daughter Elizabeth-Jane. In order to save face, Michael decides to remarry Susan, much to the surprise of the townspeople. As the story unfolds, relationships are tested and secrets are revealed, leading to unexpected twists and turns in this gripping novel by Thomas Hardy.
Check Suggested Books
Our Mission
At our book reviews website, our mission is to ignite and nurture a love for reading by providing insightful, honest, and diverse reviews that empower readers to discover new literary gems and make informed choices about their next read. We believe that books have the power to inspire, educate, and connect people from all walks of life, and our goal is to cultivate a vibrant community of bibliophiles who share their passion for literature and engage in meaningful discussions about the books that enrich their lives. Through our commitment to excellence, integrity, and inclusivity, we strive to be a trusted source of literary criticism and a valuable resource for readers seeking to explore the vast and captivating world of books.