A Pair of Blue Eyes - Thomas Hardy

Advantages: Passionate, unique
Disadvantages: The ending isn't as 'satisfying' as it could be

...Two On A Tower must be one of the most under-rated of Thomas Hardy's novels. Whilst it's not perhaps the same standard as Tess of the D'Urbervilles and The Woodlanders, it's still a fantastic novel and it's a shame that most people have never heard of it. It's hard to compare it to Hardy's better-known works, as I can't quite put my finger on all the differences - the passion and realism is still there, but in a different way than it is in Jude The Obscure or Tess. Two On A Tower is essentially the age-old love story between two people whose circumstances presents a social barrier, in this case class and an older woman being the issues, but Hardy's skill elevates it. The novel was written in 1882, ten years after Hardy's first published novel, and his experience already shows. Some writers are simply a pleasure to read and, in my... Read review

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Advantages: zzzzzzzzzz
Disadvantages: lots

.... The author is called Thomas hardy. He was born on the 2nd June in 1840 and died on 11th January 1928. In Dorchester, England. He was a miserable man and didn't see any point in living. He enjoyed being boring!!! He was a novelist and a poet. The first novel he wrote was 'The poor man and the lady' He also wrote 'A pair of blue eyes' and 'Under the greenwood tree.' A poem he wrote is 'The dynasts part one.' His death was caused by an illness called pleurisy. The book consists of 4 main characters : BATHSHEBA she is a lady farmer and she leads men on. GABRIEL OAK he is a kind man and after lots of controversy he now works for Bathsheba on the farm. Near the beginning of the book he stupidly asks her to marry him. FARMER BOLDWOOD he is an older man who likes Bathsheba. She sent him a valentines card for a joke saying 'marry me' on it and he took... Read review

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Advantages: Tess's character is lovely, the language and description are beautiful
Disadvantages: a sobering read, portrays a bad picture of men

...This novel caused a heck of a fuss when Thomas Hardy first published it. Originally titled "A Pure Woman" it was considered outrageous for a woman such as Tess to be seen as pure in Hardy's eyes. I'm giving a fairly lengthy plot description here, so apologies if you get bored, and the ending is given away, so watch out! Tess Durbeyfield is the peasant daughter of haggler John. She is partaking in a local dance with other girls when three young brothers wander along- Angel, Felix and Cuthbert (poor bugger) Clare. Angel wants to join in the dance, but his older brothers are basically a bit snobby about dancing with country girls, so Angel dances with all of the girls save for the pretty Tess, which he regrets, while she feels snubbed by him. When a local parson tells the rather vain John that he is actually the descendant of the D... Read review

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