The Return of The Native - Thomas Hardy > Reviews

Advantages: A fine book: well written and very re-readable
Disadvantages: Slightly cliched plot at times but ah well, which ones weren't in those days

I have, over the last few weeks, discovered one of the more depressing aspects of my university life. These disheartening times don't come when The Saddlers fail to produce the goods, when I'm given a particularly erroneous pint of non-descript lager, or even when I've had 6 hours of sleep, too much of the above mentioned non-descript slurpage and then have to walk through the drizzle to early lectures. They in fact, happen when I find myself sitting ... Read review

Advantages: A lovely story and typical beautiful Hardy prose
Disadvantages: It took me a while to get into it

...in my school library at the tender age of 13, I can understand that his novels can be difficult to read. I found this with Return Of The Native: I stumbled through the first chapters wondering if it was really worth the effort as it seemed to lack promise and was at times, quite frankly, rather boring. I'm pleased to say that I needn't have worried. The novel turned out to be beautiful, poetic and tragic - everything I've come to hope for and ... Read review