Put your inhibitions away! Read some pre 1990 prose! (The Return of the Native - Thomas Hardy)

Member Name: totallyextreme

Product:	The Return of the Native - Thomas Hardy
Date:	14/09/09 (24 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great storyline

Disadvantages: First 50 odd pages of Egdon bashing

When i was given this book as my pre-1900 prose piece for English Literature i honestly was very close to tears. I thought it was going to be dreary, tedious and in language i couldnt understand. However, i was wrong.

The story begins with a massively long description of Egdon Heath, the location of the novel. Hardy devotes 50 long and gruelling pages describing everything from the sky to the trees to the grass and flowers. I admit, this part wasn't the most rivetting but stick with it, its well worth it.

The story continues with the trials and tribulations of the Yeobright family, and without giving the complete story away, i will attempt to give a brief description of what occurs.

Clym Yeobright, the main character, returns from a great business venture in Paris to "educate the heathfolk" but he is soon awe-struck by the sheer beauty of Eustacia, a mysterious, dark and wild pagan. Eustacia attempts to woo Clym, believing that he is her ticket out of the Egdon which she hates so; unfortunately, she is unaware Clym intends to stay.
The story tells us of their lives and of many different sub plots which cover adultery, family values and many others. Inevitably, being a great Hardy novel, the story ends in complete tragedy, but i shall not ruin the story by describing for whom it was for.

Therefore, i would definately recommend this book.

I have even decided to purchase a number of other Hardy novels to read in my own leisure time, something i would never have dreamed of doing last year. I have just started the Mayor of Casterbridge, and i will be writing a review of that in the near future!

So, get literate, read some Hardy, and i promise you will love it.

Summary: A great read, a must have for the bookshelf