63 pages • 2 hours read
The Return of the Native
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Book Brief
448
Novel • Fiction
Egdon Heath • Victorian Era
1878
Adult
18+ years
1040L
Super Short Summary
Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native chronicles the lives of the inhabitants of Egdon Heath, centering on Eustacia Vye, who yearns for a more glamorous life, and her interactions with Clym Yeobright and Damon Wildeve, leading to turmoil and tragedy. Themes include class, fate, and social change, as characters navigate complex relationships and their desires for love and escape. This novel includes instances of mental health struggles, death, and drowning.
Melancholic
Contemplative
Mysterious
Dark
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
39,268 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Reviews of Thomas Hardy's The Return of the Native often highlight the novel's richly drawn characters and evocative portrayal of Egdon Heath as strengths. Critics appreciate Hardy's exploration of human desires and social constraints. However, some find the plot slow-paced and dense. Overall, it remains a significant, though sometimes challenging, work in Hardy’s oeuvre.
Who Should Read The Return of the Native?
A reader who enjoys richly detailed rural settings, complex characters, and themes of fate and human yearning, akin to those found in Wuthering Heights or Tess of the d'Urbervilles, will appreciate Thomas Hardy's The Return of the Native. This novel is ideal for fans of classic literature that explores the human condition against the backdrop of nature.
39,268 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
448
Novel • Fiction
Egdon Heath • Victorian Era
1878
Adult
18+ years
1040L
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