The Mayor of Casterbridge [Paperback]

I have had a love/hate relationship to Thomas Hardy for about 9 years now. It stems from a class I took in college on Thomas Hardy and Jane Austen - that included a trip to England to see some of the places where they lived and wrote about. The reason I have an aversion to Hardy is because the professor was in lurve with Hardy, and if you wrote anything in your papers or responses that challenged what she thought about him or his work, you automatically got a `C'. Delightful, that was. Needless to say, I took copious notes after that first bad paper and fell in line with her opinion. I haven't picked up a Thomas Hardy book since then, until, of course, now. It wasn't because I disliked him or his writing, just that bad experience that took root and made me put off reading anything else by him.

And then I came across a free copy of The Mayor of Casterbridge, and I figured, why not? I have a Dover Thrift edition that's preface is an essay Hardy wrote entitled, "The Science of Fiction." It's an intriguing look by the author himself of what he was doing in this book, namely letting us observe everything that is going on that the characters are not all aware of themselves. It's not that they couldn't be, but due to their natures, positions, or ideas, they miss crucial elements that could affect their futures.

The story opens with Michael Henchard, his wife Susan, and their daughter Elizabeth-Jane walking as Michael is looking for work. They stop at a fair to get something to eat, and that is where things start going right, and wrong, for these three characters. Michael has a bit too much to drink, and thinks it a great joke to offer his wife to the highest bidder. This is not the first time he's done this, but it is the first time that a man takes him up on his offer, and his wife leaves him with their daughter. He repents of his mistake in the morning, but by then it is too late, for they are gone.

The story is really that of Michael Henchard, and the things he does for unselfish and selfish reasons. It really made me think about the choices we make as individuals, and what the consequences are to ourselves and to those around us. Even though Michael makes bad choices again and again (as do others), you still feel bad for him while wanting to scream at him that he's an idiot (among others).

You will get caught up in the story of Michael, Elizabeth-Jane, Donald Farfrae, and Lucetta, wondering if things will ever be right for this interesting group of people. Almost all have a secret to hide, yet the innocent are usually the ones punished before their beloved persecutors receive what is coming to them.

Recommended To:
* Anyone who is interested in life's choices and the consequences thereof
* British Literature fans

This is a classic novel that everyone should read! It has love, passion, betrayal,all those thing that modern day soaps have! (but written better)

› Go to Amazon.com to see both reviews  4.0 out of 5 stars