Thomas Hardy
Known for such novels as Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Far from the Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy delves deeper into the genre of historical romance in this stirring portrait of the various entanglements and amorous intrigues that arise among a group of church musicians in rural England. Hearts are broken along the way, and though the novel ends with a wedding, did the right pair find each other in time? Under the Greenwood Tree
...One of Hardy's more critically acclaimed collections of verses, Time's Laughingstocks focuses on lyrical explorations of love, death, and the inevitable overlap between the two. The collection also contains a number of poems in which historical characters offer dramatic monologues, including a Roman soldier who feels a special kinship with Jesus.
23) Selected Poems
24) The Dynasts
25) A Laodicean
Though he is best remembered today for Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Far From the Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy's 1881 novel A Laodicean is also a worthy read for fans of his work. An architect falls madly in love with a young heiress, but his feelings initially are not requited. Along the way, a number of unsavory secrets are revealed.
Short stories are a perfect way to enjoy and appreciate classic literature in reader-friendly, bite-sized chunks. This collection of perfectly polished little gems from Thomas Hardy, author of works such as Return of the Native and Far from the Madding Crowd, offers a great introduction to this renowned author.
28) The Well-Beloved
Tess of the d'Urbervilles is a harrowing critique of social class and the powerlessness of women. Tess, a beautiful young woman, is pushed on her rich "relatives" by her grasping father. When the young Lord does with her as he likes, Tess's whole life falls into ruins from which she attempts to free herself. The novel met with mixed reviews upon publication, because it challenged the precepts of society. It is now considered a classic of
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