The return of the native

[Janine]

I absolutely loved this book, however, I have not found one Hardy book in which I didn't thoroughly enjoy. While reading the book I had a love hate relationship with Eustacia, and I fell in love with Venn's character and really wanted him to prevail. Depending on which version you read.... in the Barnes and Nobles Classic Version he did finally end up with Thomasin.

I totally agree with you on this one, Mariasmosis. I had the same love/hate relationship with E and I my favorite character was definitely V. I loved the rainy night, when all came together and fate played a huge role in diverting the intentions of the characters. Amazing how Hardy pulled that one off. I also love the many Hardy books I have read. Many times he starts out describing the landscape and it's not easy to be captivated until the main characters appear and become more developed. It's just Hardy's style and way. The character of the environment is very vital to the whole of the book and the deeper meaning. I think in this day and age people look for instant gratification in everything, novels as well. When Hardy wrote this book and his others, times were different - my simplified and rural, especially in his little corner of England. Therefore the books then appealed to a larger population. I think if one gives these books a little time, you will all be very delighted in the novels when you close the last page. I found them very satisfying myself.

[MANICHAEAN]

I had never read any of Thomas Hardy before and picked up “The Return of the Native” purely by chance in a charity shop in the UK for 25p. I read it here in Papua New Guinea, which is as about as far from its original geographical context that you can get! It was a new lodestone for me in reading and I have since moved on and completed “Tess of the D’Urbervilles” and am currently reading “The Mayor of Casterbridge.”
Like George Elliot, another of my favourite Victorian writers, Hardy has that ability to see into the simmering relationships of couples without all the sexual connotations so prevalent today, a bit like finding a woman sexier with clothes on than in the buff. He seamlessly introduces references from mythology, biblical characters, artists and history, which, after the initial read, has one scrambling to uncover new gems of background information and relevance.