Thomas Hardy Book order (chronological)

The Norton Critical Edition features a comprehensive collection of critical essays, background materials, and contextual information that enhance the understanding of the primary text. It includes detailed annotations, historical context, and scholarly interpretations, making it an invaluable resource for students and readers seeking deeper insights. The edition also offers a selection of illustrations and supplementary texts that enrich the reading experience, providing a well-rounded exploration of the work's themes and significance.

Featuring Clement Clarke Moore's beloved Christmas poem, this elegant hardback collection also includes festive works by Ralph Waldo Emerson and John Clare. Enhanced by Arthur Rackham's classic illustrations and charming vintage art throughout, the book is designed with a foil-embossed cover, ivory pages, and gilded edges. As part of the Arcturus Ornate Classics series, it offers a beautifully bound edition of timeless poetry, making it an ideal gift for fans of classic literature and holiday cheer.

Set against the haunting backdrop of Egdon Heath, the narrative explores the intertwined lives of its inhabitants, shaped by their desires and ambitions. Themes of love and betrayal permeate the characters' interactions, revealing how their fates are influenced by the rugged landscape. The novel delves into the complexities of human relationships and the impact of environment on personal choices.

Jude Fawley, a character driven by ambition, faces numerous obstacles in his quest for academic success. His journey is complicated by a hasty marriage and the societal constraints of his time, leading to a tumultuous personal life. Hardy explores themes of aspiration, social class, and the impact of personal choices, creating a rich tapestry of human experience and emotional depth.

Affirmative and introspective, this anthology showcases a diverse selection of poems that capture Thomas Hardy's keen observations on life, love, and the passage of time. Through his verses, readers are invited to explore profound themes and reflections, making it a thoughtful collection for poetry enthusiasts.

The story revolves around Elfride Swancourt, a young woman caught in a love triangle between two suitors from contrasting social backgrounds. As she navigates her feelings and the complexities of her relationships, themes of class disparity and emotional turmoil emerge, highlighting the challenges of love in a divided society. The narrative explores the tensions between desire and societal expectations, ultimately shaping Elfride's journey of self-discovery and the choices she must make.

This reproduction focuses on making historical works accessible, particularly for individuals with impaired vision. The publishing house Megali is dedicated to producing these texts in large print, ensuring a more comfortable reading experience.

Focusing on the tumultuous journey of a man through fate's twists, this novel intricately examines human character and societal expectations. Set in the fictional Wessex, it offers a tragic narrative that highlights the inevitability of life's challenges and the impact of time on personal choices. Thomas Hardy's storytelling captures the complexities of the protagonist's experiences against a beautifully rendered backdrop, making it a poignant exploration of life's unpredictability.

This book is a reproduction of a historical work, published by Megali, which focuses on making literature accessible to those with impaired vision through large print formatting. The initiative aims to preserve important texts while enhancing readability for a broader audience.

Focusing on accessibility, this publication by Megali aims to provide historical works in large print, catering specifically to individuals with impaired vision. By reproducing original texts, it ensures that these important works remain available and readable, promoting inclusivity in literature.

The book is a reproduction of a historical work, published by Megali, a company dedicated to creating large print editions for enhanced accessibility. This initiative aims to assist individuals with impaired vision, ensuring that classic texts are available to a wider audience. The focus on readability highlights the importance of inclusivity in literature.

Megali focuses on making historical works accessible by producing them in large print, catering specifically to individuals with impaired vision. This approach not only preserves original texts but also enhances readability, ensuring that a wider audience can enjoy and engage with important literary works from the past.

This edition focuses on making historical works accessible through large print, catering specifically to individuals with visual impairments. The publishing house Megali emphasizes the importance of readability and inclusivity in literature, ensuring that classic texts are available to a wider audience.

The book is a reproduction of a historical work, designed specifically for accessibility. Published by Megali, it features large print to aid readers with impaired vision, ensuring that important texts remain available to a wider audience. This focus on inclusivity highlights the commitment to preserving and sharing historical literature in a format that is easier to read.

Set in a pre-Victorian era, the story follows Margery, a beautiful yet delicate milkmaid engaged to James Hayward. Her life takes a turn when she saves a Baron from suicide, leading to a budding connection between them. Margery dreams of dancing at a ball, a wish that the Baron helps fulfill, igniting her feelings for him. As their relationship deepens, they grapple with social class divides and Margery's existing engagement, which complicates their desires. The narrative explores her emotional journey amidst a blend of reality and fantasy.

This book is a reproduction of a historical work, specifically designed in large print to enhance readability for individuals with impaired vision. The publishing house Megali focuses on making classic texts accessible, ensuring that important literary and historical content can be enjoyed by a wider audience.

This collection showcases Thomas Hardy's introspective and affirmative poetry, highlighting his dual talent as a novelist and poet. Renowned for his impactful novels, Hardy's poetic genius is revealed through a blend of themes that reflect on both past and present experiences, offering readers a deep exploration of his literary artistry.

This poetry collection features Thomas Hardy's reflections on life's transience and the human experience, capturing societal changes of his era. The verses explore themes of love, loss, and complex relationships, providing an intimate look at the emotional landscape of humanity. Hardy's elegant language and introspective tone highlight his poetic craftsmanship, offering profound contemplation of existence's challenges. This anthology stands as a significant contribution to English literature and poetry, resonating with timeless relevance.

Wspaniały portret niezależnej kobiety, która potrafi wybrnąć nawet z pozornie nieodwracalnych skutków źle podjętych decyzji. Klasyczna i jedna z najlepszych powieści w dorobku autora, obrazowo ukazująca przesądy i zwyczaje małej wiejskiej społeczności. Dziewiętnastowieczna Anglia. Betsaba Everdene dziedziczy farmę po zmarłym wuju. Wszyscy oczekują, że wyjdzie za mąż i zajmie się dziećmi. Ale ona, silna i inteligentna, nie zamierza wiązać się z nikim bez miłości. Życie przyniesie wiele niespodzianek - nieoczywiste wybory, sercowe rozterki oraz pomyłki losu. Betsaba zrobi jednak wszystko, żeby znaleźć sobie miejsce w zmaskulinizowanym świecie. Uroda i niezależność dziewczyny przyciągają wszakże mężczyzn. O jej względy zabiega trzech całkowicie odmiennych kandydatów: oddany pasterz Gabriel Oak, sąsiad i szanowany farmer William Boldwood oraz sierżant królewskich dragonów, a przy tym kobieciarz i hulaka, Franciszek Troy. Relacje pomiędzy Betsabą a jej adoratorami stanowią podstawę studium wielu obliczy miłości - od tej szczerej i gorącej, po pozbawione skrupułów i skłonne do manipulacji uwielbienie. Książka o gwałtownej sile miłości i namiętności, która doczekała się kilku głośnych ekranizacji filmowych.

The collection showcases Thomas Hardy's poetry, reflecting his critical view of Victorian society, particularly the plight of rural communities in South West England. Influenced by Romanticism and the works of William Wordsworth, Hardy's verses capture the essence of his era while expressing deep empathy for the struggles of the marginalized. As a Victorian realist, he intertwines his literary prowess with social commentary, offering readers a poignant exploration of themes related to decline and resilience in a changing world.

The narrative follows a country girl of noble descent who faces betrayal and tragedy after being seduced and left pregnant. Following the death of her baby, she encounters a man she hopes to build a future with, only to be abandoned on their wedding night when she reveals her past. The story explores themes of social class, morality, and the struggles of women in a patriarchal society, highlighting the harsh realities of her life and the impact of her choices.

Die vierte Übersetzung von Thomas Hardys "Tess von den D'Urbervilles" durch Barbara Scholz zielt darauf ab, die zahlreichen, oft unverständlichen Fremdwörter in eine sinnvolle deutsche Sprache zu übertragen. Diese neue Übersetzung ermöglicht eine bessere Lesbarkeit und ein tieferes Verständnis des Werkes, das bisher in drei unzureichenden Übersetzungen vorlag.

This poetic collection reveals Thomas Hardy's lyrical prowess and deep contemplation of the human condition. Published in the early 20th century, it highlights his versatility as a writer, showcasing a seamless transition from prose fiction to verse. The anthology features a blend of satirical elements and reflective pieces, offering readers insight into Hardy's thoughts and emotions during a transformative era in literature.

The collection features a range of themes typical of Thomas Hardy, including mismatches, grotesqueries, and ironic memories. The poems are characterized by their musical quality, frequently employing a ballad format to evoke nostalgia and reflect on the past. Published in 1922, this anthology showcases Hardy's continued exploration of complex emotions and human experiences through verse.

Jedna ze stu najważniejszych książek wszech czasów! Otwarty portret seksualnej hipokryzji społeczeństwa epoki wiktoriańskiej. Powieść Thomasa Hardy’ego natychmiast po premierze w 1891 roku wzbudziła szalone kontrowersje. Także dzięki nim odniosła ogromny sukces komercyjny i weszła go grona klasyki literatury. Ufna i bezbronna Tessa zostaje w myśl przyjętych powszechnie standardów wystawiona przez własną rodzinę na małżeńską „giełdę”. Jako „atrakcyjny towar” ma zdobyć majątek. Jednak uwiedziona i bezlitośnie wykorzystana przez rzekomego przyszłego męża, samotnie rodzi dziecko, które wkrótce umiera. Wówczas Tessa spotyka młodego idealistę, Angela Clare’a. Jednak kiedy ten poznaje przeszłość dziewczyny, odrzuca ją. Będąc ofiarą obłudnej, skostniałej angielskiej moralności, pozbawiona nadziei i środków do życia Tessa ucieka przed cierpieniem, decydując się na straszny, desperacki krok. Wstrząsającą historię miłości, zdrady i zbrodni Hardy kreśli barwnym, poetyckim językiem. Połączenie krytyki społecznych konwenansów z dogłębną refleksją nad rolą przeznaczenia w ludzkim życiu sprawiają, że Tessa D’Urberville należy do powieści szczególnie poruszających i pamiętnych. W 1979 roku na podstawie książki powstał głośny, wielokrotnie nagradzany i doceniany przez krytykę film w reżyserii Romana Polańskiego z Nastassją Kinski w roli głównej. W roku 2008 powieść stała się podstawą doskonałego serialu z Gemmą Arterton w roli tytułowej.

"When Jack and Joan Durbeyfield learn that their ancestors were the d'Urbervilles - a rich and well-known family - they hope it will make their lives better. They send their eldest daughter, Tess, to introduce herself to some 'relatives'. There, Tess meets Alec d'Urberville, who immediately notices her beauty. The terrible event that follows changes her life forever."--Publisher

Hardy tells the story of Tess Durbeyfield, a beautiful young woman living with her impoverished family in Wessex, the southwestern English county immortalized by Hardy. After the family learns of their connection to the wealthy d'Urbervilles, they send Tess to claim a portion of their fortune.

This collection presents five classic horror stories that delve into themes of unsettling dread and the unknown. Each tale, from Grant Allen's eerie "Pallinghurst Barrow" to H.P. Lovecraft's chilling "The Very Old Folk," explores the darker aspects of human experience. Notable works like Arthur Machen's "The Great God Pan" and Thomas Hardy's "The Withered Arm" contribute to an atmosphere of suspense and terror, ensuring a sleepless night for readers seeking the macabre.

Bathsheba Everdene is young and beautiful. She has her own farm and she likes to do things her way. Three men are in love with her - a poor shepherd, a rich farmer and a soldier. Which man will she choose, and will he be the right one for her?Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. With carefully adapted text, new illustrations and language learning exercises, the print edition also includes instructions to access supporting material online.Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction, introducing language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content.The eight levels of Penguin Readers follow the Common European Framework of Reference for language learning (CEFR). Exercises at the back of each Reader help language learners to practise grammar, vocabulary, and key exam skills. Before, during and after-reading questions test readers' story comprehension and develop vocabulary.

STAGE 3 - 1000 headwords | B1 | Preliminary | Classic A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented” The story, set in a poor rural area of England in the 19th century, centres around Tess Durbeyfield, a sweet, innocent, country girl who is a victim of fate and her own beauty. When her lazy father finds out that his ancestors were the noble d’Urberville family, he dreams of winning back this glory for his own family. Tess, 16 years old at the start of the story and the eldest of seven children, is pushed by her parents to go and work for Alec d’Urberville who will change Tess’s life in a dramatic way. In the middle of the chaos caused by Alec d’Urberville, Tess meets Angel Clare. Will he love her forever as he promises, without judging her for her past? Or will Alec d’Urberville become her master? Read and find out. Syllabus Grammar and structures Present simple and continuous, past simple and continuous, present and past perfect simple. Future with go-ing to and will. Passive forms. Modal verbs. Verb + infinitive, verb + ing. Phrasal verbs. First and second condi- tional. Comparatives and superlatives. In this Reader you will find: Information about Thomas Hardy and his times | Focus on section about Stonehenge | Glossary of difficult words | Comprehension and extension activities including B1 Preliminary style activities Tags Classic literature | Relationships | Fate | Judgement

Jude Fawley, Steinmetz, von seiner Frau verlassen, trifft in Christminster seine verheiratete Cousine Sue Bridehead. Sie wird die Leidenschaft seines Lebens. Für die Gesellschaft bleiben sie durch ihre „wilde Ehe“ geächtet. Doch als Judes Frau Arabella den gemeinsamen Sohn aus Australien schickt und Jude und Sue ihn mit den eigenen Kindern aufziehen wollen, beginnt eine Tragödie auf Leben und Tod. Thomas Hardys größtes Werk weckte im England des 19. Jahrhunderts einen solchen Entrüstungssturm, dass er nie wieder einen Roman schrieb. Eine der dramatischsten, leidenschaftlichsten Liebesgeschichten in der englischen Literatur – in der packenden Neuübersetzung von Alexander Pechmann.

Ayant perdu toutes ses bêtes par la faute d'un chien mal dressé, le jeune berger Gabriel Oak se trouve ruiné. Le voilà réduit à trouver du travail dans une ferme qu'il vient de sauver d'un incendie. Il ignore qu'elle appartient à Bathsheba Everdene, une jeune femme venue s'installer au pays avec sa tante... et qui a repoussé ses avances avec hauteur. Sans un regard pour Gabriel, la belle héritière est convoitée par un prospère exploitant, William Boldwood, mais aussi par son rival, le fringant sergent Francis Troy - sans savoir qu'une domestique est enceinte de ses oeuvres. Quel espoir l'honnête Gabriel pourrait- il encore nourrir ? A peine s'il compte sur la folie des hommes pour lui ouvrir le coeur de Bathsheba... Finira-t-elle par reconnaître que le plus digne d'elle n'est pas de sa condition ? L'Angleterre rurale est le décor d'enjeux passionnels scrutés avec une attention naturaliste par Thomas Hardy dans ce roman de 1874, qui fut son premier grand succès.

Set against a picturesque rural backdrop, this edition features an etching by H. Macbeth-Raeburn and a map of Wessex, enhancing its charm. The book presents a faithful reprint of the original 1898 publication, capturing the essence of its time. The artwork and map provide a visual context that complements the narrative, making it a delightful addition for readers interested in historical literature and the beauty of the Dutch School's influence.

This high-quality reprint of the original 1872 edition offers a glimpse into rural life through the lens of the Dutch school of painting. The book captures the essence of pastoral scenes, providing readers with a vivid representation of countryside beauty and simplicity. Its unchanged format allows for an authentic experience of the art and culture of the time, making it a valuable addition for art enthusiasts and historians alike.

A collectible new Penguin Classics series: stunning, clothbound editions of ten favourite poets, which present each poet's most famous book of verse as it was originally published. Designed by the acclaimed Coralie Bickford-Smith and beautifully set, these slim, A format volumes are the ultimate gift editions for poetry lovers. Wessex Poems was Hardy's first collection of poetry, published after he had turned away from novel writing, disillusioned by the savage reception Jude the Obscure had received. Its publication marked the start of an extraordinary new phase in Hardy's writing career: for the rest of his long life, he would write only poetry. Here are sprightly Dorset ballads, verses set during the Napoleonic Wars, and personal poems reflecting on Hardy's life and loves. Composed throughout Hardy's life and animated by his affection for his beloved Wessex, their publication in 1898 heralded the arrival of a major new poetic voice.

Es handelt sich hier erst um die zweite zweisprachige Ausgabe der sogenannten Emma-Gedichte englisch und deutsch. Auch die erste, von Rüdiger Görner, erschien in der EDITION SIGNAThUR. Günter Plessow, der Nachdichter, fügte den Poems 1912-13 Anmerkungen, Reflexionen und Maximen bei.

Designed to appeal to the book lover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautifully bound pocket-sized gift editions of much loved classic titles. Bound in real cloth, printed on high quality paper, and featuring ribbon markers and gilt edges, Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure. Thomas Hardy saw himself, first and foremost, as a poet and he composed poetry throughout his prolific and acclaimed novel-writing years. In 1896, dismayed by the criticism he received on publication of Jude the Obscure, he astonished his worldwide readership by announcing that he would write no more novels. From 1898, until his death in 1928, Hardy published eight volumes of poetry - beginning with Wessex Poems and Other Verses - and this entirely new selection gives us the best from each volume. Now regarded as a bridge between the Victorian era and Modernism, his poetry is lyrical and soul-searching with subjects ranging from the poignant grief at the death of his wife to his experiences of war. Edited and introduced by Ned Halley.

Violated by one man, forsaken by another, Tess Durbeyfield is the magnificent and spirited heroine of Thomas Hardy’s immortal work. Of all the great English novelists, no one writes more eloquently of tragic destiny than Hardy. With the innocent and powerless victim Tess, he creates profound sympathy for human frailty while passionately indicting the injustices of Victorian society. Scorned by outraged readers upon its publication in 1891, Tess of the d’Urbervilles is today one of the enduring classics of nineteenth-century literature.

Zu den POEMS 1912-13 gehören 21 zum Teil längere Gedichte. Die meisten entstanden nach dem Tod der Ehefrau Emma geb. Gifford im November 1912. In diesen Texten schildert Hardy sein Leben und Erleben mit der Abgeschiedenen; diese sogenannten Emma-Gedichte erhalten das Andenken an die verstorbene Gattin.

Controversial when it was first published for challenging Victorian morals, Tess of the d'Urbervilles is here presented in a thoroughly edited and extensively annotated edition.

'Woman much missed, how you call to me, call to me...' After the death of his wife Emma, a grief-stricken Hardy wrote some of the best verse of his career. Moving and evocative, it ranks among the greatest elegiac poetry in the language. Introducing Little Black Classics: 80 books for Penguin's 80th birthday. Little Black Classics celebrate the huge range and diversity of Penguin Classics, with books from around the world and across many centuries. They take us from a balloon ride over Victorian London to a garden of blossom in Japan, from Tierra del Fuego to 16th-century California and the Russian steppe. Here are stories lyrical and savage; poems epic and intimate; essays satirical and inspirational; and ideas that have shaped the lives of millions. Thomas Hardy (1840-1928). Hardy's works available in Penguin Classics are A Laodicean, A Pair of Blue Eyes, Desperate Remedies, Far from the Madding Crowd, Jude the Obscure, Selected Poems, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, The Distracted Preacher and Other Tales, The Fiddler of the Reels and Other Stories, The Hand of Ethelberta, The Mayor of Casterbridge, The Pursuit of the Well-beloved and The Well-beloved, The Return of the Native, The Trumpet-Major, The Withered Arm and Other Stories, The Woodlanders, Two on a Tower and Under the Greenwood Tree.

Thomas Hardy's "Poetical Matter" notebook, the last published from a select group of his surviving notebooks, has been meticulously edited with comprehensive scholarly annotation. This notebook includes numerous notes copied from old pocket-books that were later destroyed, allowing it to reflect all periods of Hardy's life. It is particularly valuable for enhancing biographical knowledge of his final years and preserving intimate records, such as his vivid memories of childhood in Bockhampton and his impressions of a woman seen during a 1868 pleasure steamer trip. Its uniqueness lies in its role as a late working notebook focused specifically on verse. Florence Hardy, his widow, noted his late-life creative surge, feeling he could write indefinitely. "Poetical Matter" serves as direct evidence of his active engagement with poetry, showcasing his thoughts on new poems up until shortly before his death at eighty-seven. The notebook is rich with new ideas for poems and sequences, illustrating Hardy's creative process as he worked through initial concepts, gathered notes, tentative prose, verse fragments, metrical schemes, and rhyme patterns, ultimately leading to the drafts from which completed poems would emerge.

Part of Penguin's beautiful hardback Clothbound Classics series, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith, these delectable and collectible editions are bound in high-quality colourful, tactile cloth with foil stamped into the design. When Tess Durbeyfield is driven by family poverty to claim kinship with the wealthy D'Urbervilles and seek a portion of their family fortune, meeting her 'cousin' Alec proves to be her downfall. A very different man, Angel Clare, seems to offer her love and salvation, but Tess must choose whether to reveal her past or remain silent in the hope of a peaceful future. With its sensitive depiction of the wronged Tess and powerful criticism of social convention, Tess of the D'Urbervilles is one of the most moving and poetic of Hardy's novels.

This award-winning graded readers series is full of original fiction, adapted fiction and factbooks especially written for teenagers.

Classic / British EnglishMichael Henchard is a wealthy and respected man, but he has a terrible secret. Twenty years ago, when he was unemployed and penniless, he sold his wife to a sailor. Now she is looking for him again. Why? And what will happen when she finds him?

Word count 11,680 Read at a comfortable level with word count and CEFR level on every cover Illustrations, photos, and diagrams support comprehension Activities build language skills and check understanding Glossaries teach difficult vocabulary Free editable tests for every book Selected Bookworms are available for your tablet or computer through the Oxford Learner's Bookshelf

Classic / British EnglishGabriel Oak is an honest, hard-working young farmer, who falls in love with the beautiful and independent Bathsheba Everdene. After a tragic accident, Gabriel loses his farm. Bathsheba, on the other hand, becomes rich. Is there any hope for Gabriel?

Bathsheba Everdene is young, proud, and beautiful. She is an independent woman and can marry any man she chooses - if she chooses. In fact, she likes her independence, and she likes fighting her own battles in a man's world. But it is never wise to ignore the power of love.

Thomas Hardy is one of the sacred figures in English writing, a novelist with a world reputation, but above all a great poet. This work is a selection of Hardy's love poems.

This award-winning collection of adapted classic literature and original stories develops reading skills for low-beginning through advanced students. Accessible language and carefully controlled vocabulary build students' reading confidence. Introductions at the beginning of each story, illustrations throughout, and glossaries help build comprehension. Before, during, and after reading activities included in the back of each book strengthen student comprehension. Audio versions of selected titles provide great models of intonation and pronunciation of difficult words.

Macmillan Readers v této pokročilosti můžete číst asi po dvou letech studia angličtiny, knihy mají 80 až 69 stran. K porozumění vám postačí slovní zásoba 1 400 slov. Kniha je balena s poslechovým CD a obsahuje 8 stran cvičení. věk 15+ Jeden z největších románů Hardyho, daleko od hlučícího davu vypráví příběh života a osudových lásek odvážné a krásné Betsabé Everdene... Popis: Macmillan Readers v této pokročilosti můžete číst asi po dvou letech studia angličtiny, knihy mají 80 až 69 stran. K porozumění vám postačí slovní zásoba 1 400 slov.One of Hardy's greatest novels, Far from the Madding Crowd tells the story of the life and loves of the brave and the beautiful Bathsheba Everdene. // Attention: If no attachments (CDs, booklets etc.) are shown in the photo, they are not included.

The Bookworms series offers six graded stages provide more than 130 stories at different levels of ability. The lower levels feature a wide choice of original stories, while the higher levels feature adaptations of well-known works originally published for native speakers. There are titles to suit all tastes: fantasy and horror; thriller and adventure; classics; true stories; crime and mystery; human interest.

Independent and spirited Bathsheba Everdene has come to Weatherbury to take up her position as a farmer on the largest estate in the area. Her bold presence draws three very different suitors: the gentleman-farmer Boldwood, soldier-seducer Sergeant Troy and the devoted shepherd Gabriel Oak. Each, in contrasting ways, unsettles her decisions and complicates her life, and tragedy ensues, threatening the stability of the whole community. The first of his works set in Wessex, Hardy's novel of swiftpassion and slow courtship is imbued with his evocative descriptions of rural life and landscapes, and with unflinching honesty about sexual relationships.

On a stormy winter night, a stranger knocks at the door of a shepherd's cottage. He is cold and hungry, and wants to get out of the rain. He is welcomed inside, but he does not give his name or his business. Who is he, and where has he come from? And he is only the first visitor to call at the cottage that night... In these three short stories, Thomas Hardy gives us pictures of the lives of shepherds and hangmen, dukes and teachers. But rich or poor, young or old, they all have the same feelings of fear, hope, love, jealousy...

Typicky hardyovská atmosféra ponurého vřesoviště, precizní miniportréty lidí, jež zde žijí, překrásný jazyk, náznaky a symboly, množství odkazů a lehké ironie při charakterizaci jednotlivých postav, to vše provází tajemný příběh o slavných křtinách na samotě u pastýře Fennela, příběh záhadného uprchlíka, kterého všichni obdivovali pro jeho chladnokrevnost, ale který nebyl nikdy dopaden.

Whoever had perceived the yeoman standing on Squire Everard's lawn in the dusk of that October evening fifty years ago, might have said at first sight that he was loitering there from idle curiosity. For a large five-light window of the manor-house in front of him was unshuttered and uncurtained, so that the illuminated room within could be scanned almost to its four corners. Obviously nobody was ever expected to be in this part of the grounds after nightfall. The apartment thus swept by an eye from without was occupied by two persons; they were sitting over dessert, the tablecloth having been removed in the old-fashioned way. The fruits were local, consisting of apples, pears, nuts, and such other products of the summer as might be presumed to grow on the estate. There was strong ale and rum on the table, and but little wine. Moreover, the appointments of the dining-room were simple and homely even for the date, betokening a countrified household of the smaller gentry, without much wealth or ambition-formerly a numerous class, but now in great part ousted by the territorial landlords.

Collected Classics Paper III (Penguin Readers (Graded Readers))

Bathsheba Everdene is a beautiful young woman with three men who love her, but, unfortunately for her, she chooses the wrong man to marry.

The phrase `life's little ironies' is now proverbial, but it was coined by Hardy as the title for this, his third volume of short stories. While the tales and sketches reflect many of the strengths and themes of the great novels, they are powerful works in their own right. Unified by his quintessential irony, strong visual sense, and engaging characters, they deal with the tragic and the humorous, the metaphysical and the magical. The collection displays the whole range of Hardy's art as a writer of fiction, from fantasy to uncompromising realism, and from the loving re-creation of a vanished rural world to the repressions of fin-de-siecle bourgeois life.

Jocelyn Pierston, celebrated sculptor, tries to create an image of his ideal woman - his imaginary Well-Beloved - in stone, just as he tries to find her in the flesh.

Tess is driven by her poverty into the service of her wealthy relations. Her lowly position leads her to become the victim of her cousin, Alec, her seducer and nemesis. When she marries Angel Clare, she confesses her past, but Clare is unforgiving and cruelly leaves her to face her destiny alone.

Jude Fawley and Sue Bridehead both had unhappy first marriages, so when they fall in love, they cannot prevent the past from returning, bringing them both great sadness.

The daughter of a wealthy railway magnate, Paula Power inherits De Stancy Castle, an ancient castle in need of modernization. She commissions George Somerset, a young architect, to undertake the work. Somerset falls in love with Paula but she, the Laodicean of the title, is torn between his admiration and that of Captain De Stancy.

This selection was the third that Hardy collected together himself for publication as a single volume. It reflects the experiences of a novelist who was at the height of his creative powers. The stories are thematically linked by a concern with the diverse problems of marriage

Thomas Hardys früher Roman spielt während der Napoleonischen Kriege und erzählt von drei jungen Männern, die um die schöne Anne Garland werben. Während der Krieg das ländliche Idyll bedroht, müssen die Brüder John und Robert Loveday sowie ein dritter Verehrer um Annes Herz kämpfen, wobei der Krieg ihre Schicksale bestimmt.

Selected Short Stories: Thomas Hardy was born in 1840 near Dorchester in that part of England he called Wessex. With stories sometimes from his own imagination and sometimes from local tradition, Hardy's work, like Dickens and Trollope, creates a strong sense of mood and location. Hardy hoped to be remembered for his poetry, but ours is not a poetic age. Thus his claim to a new generation of listeners rests on his prose. There are great similarities between his era, a time of challenge, and our own. This collection of short stories shows Hardy at his best and includes: "The Three Strangers," "The Withered Arm," "The Fiddler of the Reels," "Barbara of the House of Grebe" and "The Distracted Preacher."

The volume includes five of Hardy's best-loved novels, Under the Greenwood Tree, Far from the Madding crowd, The Mayor of Casterbridge, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, and Hardy's own favourite The Woodlanders.These much loved novels demonstrate the full range and power of Hardy's greatest fiction, including tragic heroes and heroines such as Michael Henchard and Tess, the bittersweet romance of Bathsheba and her lovers, and Hardy's matchless evocation of the shifting patterns of English rural life.

This work comprises a collection of the poetic works of Thomas Hardy. Hardy's poetry spanned over 50 years from the last half of the 19th century to the period after World War I, and ranges from pessimistic works to those which were witty and fanciful.

The Mayor of Casterbridge is a man haunted by his past. In his youth he betrayed his wife and baby daughter in a shocking incident that led him to swear never to touch alcohol again for twenty-one years. He has since risen from his humble origins to become a respected pillar of the community in Casterbridge, but his secrets cannot stay hidden forever. Thomas Hardy’s almost supernatural insight into the course of wayward lives, his instinctive feeling for the beauty of the rural landscape, and his power to invest that landscape with moral significance all came together in an utterly fluent way in The Mayor of Casterbridge. A classically shaped story about the rise and fall of the brooding and sometimes brutal Michael Henchard in the harsh world of nineteenth-century rural England, The Mayor of Casterbridge is an emblematic product of Hardy’s maturity–vigorous, forceful, and unclouded by illusions.