Return of the Native

Explore the poignant tale of unrequited love and societal constraints with Thomas Hardy's 'The Return of the Native.' This classic novel delves deep into the heart of human emotion, set against the backdrop of Egdon Heath's haunting beauty. Eustacia Vye, a passionate and free-spirited woman, dreams of escaping her mundane existence through love. However, her aspirations collide with the reality of her marriage to Clym Yeobright, who longs to return to the humble life of Egdon's community, igniting a tragic spiral of disappointment and despair. This *trade paperback edition*, published by *Penguin UK*, captures the raw intensity of Hardy's narrative, coupled with thoughtful annotations that enhance your reading experience. Gain insights from the introduction by Penny Bouhmelha, who expertly unearths the intricate literary allusions throughout the text, including connections to Flaubert's 'Madame Bovary' and the timeless 'Oedipus' tale. Fans of classic literature and tragic love stories will appreciate this meticulously crafted edition, complete with a glossary, bibliography, and an engaging chronology of Hardy's life. Perfect for book clubs and literature enthusiasts, 'The Return of the Native' not only reflects Hardy's belief in the tragic nature of ordinary lives but also invites readers to ponder the choices that shape our destinies. Don't miss your chance to own this essential piece of literary history.

Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780140435184
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 2000
Publisher: Penguin UK
Pages: 496


Description:
Thomas Hardy's tragic vision of a love struggling to overcome prejudice and rejection, The Return of the Native is edited in Penguin Classics with an introduction by Penny Bouhmelha.
Against the lowering background of Egdon Heath, fiery Eustacia Vye passes her days, wishing only for passionate love. She believes that her escape from Egdon lies in marriage to Clym Yeobright, home from Paris and discontented with his work there. But Clym wishes to return to the Egdon community; a desire which sets him in opposition to his wife and brings them both to despair.
Based on the first edition of the text, this edition includes detailed notes of later revisions made by Hardy, glossary, bibliography and useful chronology of author's life. In her introduction Penny Bouhmelha identifies the literary and classical allusions in Hardy's text, in particular the parallels with Flaubert's Madame Bovary and with the Oedipus story. In so doing she demonstrates Hardy's claim for tragic status for ordinary human lives and the ways that the characters in the novel - especially the ill-fated lovers and Damon Wildeve - spoil their chances to master their own destinies.
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), born Higher Brockhampton, near Dorchester, originally trained as an architect before earning his living as a writer. Though he saw himself primarily as a poet, Hardy was the author of some of the late eighteenth century's major novels- The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886), Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1891), Far from the Madding Crowd

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