Classics > Thomas Hardy Classics

Advantages: wonderful imagery
Disadvantages: not long enough

...of a bygone era of harsh and yet unrivaled beauty in the countryside. I was also struck by the amount of devotion Tess had to the people she loved. A must read, especially for 20 something females! I will never judge a book by the blurb on the back again!!!! ... Read review

Advantages: Hardy at his most dramatic and powerful
Disadvantages: In places perhaps miserable to the point of being unbelieveable

Jude the Obscure, Hardy's last novel, is certainly considered among the better of his 20-odd novels, both by modern critics and by Hardy himself. It's my personal favourite, though Tess of the D'Urbevilles comes not far behind. The social comment is worthy - that men cannot hope to acheive greatness by virtue of hard work alone - and revolutionary for its time. The characters are live and believable, and of course Hardy is able as always to make ...
...context of Hardy's other works, Jude the Obscure is something of an oddball: the rural setting, though still there, is much less important and apparent than in any of his other books, and the descriptions of rural life and landscapes are fewer (though no less detailed and profound). Though suffering and hardship are apparent in many of his later novels, only in Tess of the D'Urbevilles is the misery nearly as complete as it is here (though in the ... Read review

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 ...
...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 opinion, Hardy is one of them: his descriptions are excellent, his characters are sometimes painfully human ... Read review

Advantages: Very funny, enjoyable melodrama
Disadvantages: Not for everyone

Desperate Remedies was written in response to publishers who rejected Thomas Hardy’s first novel, a socio-political story called The Poor Man and The Lady (which was never published and the manuscript was later destroyed by Hardy; a great pity), who wanted a more sensationalist story without the political overtones. The result, although not considered one of Hardy’s best works, is a delightful Victorian melodrama that’s extremely entertaining. The ...
...but as she grows more desperate she is forced to advertise her services as a maid and is offered a job by the mysterious Miss Aldclyffe. Miss Aldclyffe is heiress to Knapwater, currently in possession of her elderly father. She is resolutely single and of an indeterminate age – she looks younger than she actually is and tries to obscure her true age. She takes a liking to Cytherea and sets in motion a chain of events that leads to Cytherea being ... Read review

Advantages: zzzzzzzzzz
Disadvantages: lots

I HATE this book. In my opinion it's the worst book I have ever read. Others may disagree about it. For example my mums work mate loves it :s. I have read it in this in English in September ad I am glad its over. The book is very complexed and confusing. You have to be a complete genius to understand what Thomas Hardy is babbling on about. (He is the writer.) This book is known as a classic and I don't like these type of books. I usually go for ...
...Lots of he chapters are of weird descriptions. They are completely pointless. For example Thomas hardy describes a sheep and goes on about it for 5 pages. IT'S A SHEEP. How much can you say about one? This book is so predictable you could basically guess what is going to happen from the being of the book. I did and I was right. The author is called Thomas hardy. He was born on the 2nd June in 1840 and died on 11th January 1928. In Dorchester, England. ... Read review