The Return of the Native - Thomas Hardy

Please join us for The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy.

Book descriptions (take care, may contain spoilers): Goodreads; Wikipedia.

Published in 1878, Return of the Native tells the story of Eustacia Vye, a restless woman who seeks escape from her life on Egdon Heath, and her disastrous marriage to Clym Yeobright, a "native" returning from Paris who aims to live a simple life. Hardy originally struggled to find a publisher for this work owing to its controversial themes.

Born in 1840 in Upper Bockhampton, Dorset, Hardy was a prominent English novelist and poet, particularly known for his novels set in the fictional region of Wessex, based in Dorset. Hardy initially pursued architecture in London before turning to writing where his early work included poetry, but achieved fame with his novels, notably Far from the Madding Crowd and Tess of the d'Urbervilles.

He was a realist and naturalistic writer, often exploring themes of rural life, social injustice, and the impact of destiny on individuals. His work often featured strong female protagonists and a sense of fatalism, reflecting his observations of the harsh realities of rural life. Hardy also wrote a significant body of poetry, which he considered his primary form of expression. He died of a pleurisy in 1928 after dictating a final poem to his wife.

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