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The Return of the Native

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'The Return of the Native' by Thomas Hardy is a novel set on the bleak expanse of Egdon Heath, focusing on the characters' tangled relationships, misunderstandings, and desires for escape. The story follows Eustacia Vye, a complex and resentful character longing for a life beyond the heath, and Clym Yeobright, the returning native who becomes entangled in a web of love and despair. The novel explores themes of love, loyalty, infidelity, and fate versus free will against the backdrop of the atmospheric setting of Egdon Heath. Hardy's writing style is characterized by detailed descriptions of the countryside and rural life, creating a vivid and immersive reading experience.

Characters:

Characters are vividly drawn, with Eustacia Vye as a complex and ambitious figure, Clym Yeobright embodying idealism, and supporting characters adding depth and nuance.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by rich and lyrical prose, offering evocative descriptions while blending subtle humor with melancholy.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features a tragic romance marked by misunderstandings and a profound sense of fate, with the setting of Egdon Heath significantly shaping the characters' lives.

Setting:

The setting of Egdon Heath is central to the narrative, symbolizing isolation and acting as a character that significantly influences the story.

Pacing:

The novel has a slow start rich in description but gains momentum as the intricate plots and character interactions unfold.
A Saturday afternoon in November was approaching the time of twilight, and the vast tract of unenclosed wild known as Egdon Heath embrowned itself moment by moment. Overhead the hollow stretch of whit...

Notes:

The Return of the Native was first published in installments from January to December 1878 in the magazine Belgravia.
Egdon Heath, the primary setting of the novel, is considered by some critics to be a protagonist in its own right.
The character Eustacia Vye was originally conceived as a witch for another unfinished work by Hardy.
The novel explores themes of fate, misunderstanding, and the desire to escape one’s predestined life.
Hardy conveys a sense of despair and inevitability in the lives of his characters, consistent with his typical style.
The story revolves around a complex love pentagon involving characters Clym Yeobright, Eustacia Vye, Damon Wildeve, and Thomasin Yeobright.
While Eustacia is central to driving the narrative forward, her flaws contribute to the tragic outcomes of the story.
Diggory Venn, the reddleman, is an important character who represents selfless love and kindness in contrast to others' selfish actions.
The narrative's backdrop of Egdon Heath symbolizes the constraints and traditions of rural life during Hardy's time.
Eustacia Vye is portrayed as a passionate, yet tragic figure who struggles to transcend her environment, reflecting Hardy's nuanced views on gender roles.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers include themes of depression, suicide, domestic strife, and the impact of tragic decisions.

Has Romance?

The novel features significant romantic elements, including a complex love quadrangle.

From The Publisher:

The novel takes place entirely in the environs of Egdon Heath, and, with the exception of the epilogue, covers exactly a year and a day. The narrative begins on the evening of Guy Fawkes Night as Diggory Venn drives slowly across the heath, carrying a hidden passenger in the back of his van. When darkness falls, the country folk light bonfires on the surrounding hills, emphasizing-not for the last time-the pagan spirit of the heath and its denizens.

Ratings (6)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (3)
Liked It (2)

Reader Stats (21):

Read It (7)
Want To Read (8)
Not Interested (6)

About the Author:

Thomas Hardy was born on 2 June 1840. His father was a stonemason. He was brought up near Dorchester and trained as an architect. In 1868 his work took him to St Juliot's church in Cornwall where he met his wife-to-be, Emma. His first novel, The Poor Man and the Lady, was rejected by publishers but Desperate Remedies was published in 1871 and this was rapidly followed by Under the Greenwood Tree (1872), A Pair of Blue Eyes (1873) and Far from the Madding Crowd (1874). He also wrote many other novels, poems and short stories. Tess of the D'Urbervilles was published in 1891. His final novel was Jude the Obscure (1895). Hardy was awarded the Order of Merit in 1920 and the gold medal of the Royal Society of Literature in 1912. His wife died in 1912 and he later married his secretary. Thomas Hardy died 11 January 1928.

 
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