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448
Novel • Fiction
Egdon Heath • Victorian Era
1878
Adult
18+ years
1040L
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
39,268 ratings
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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.
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
Thomasin Yeobright
A gentle and compliant young woman who lives with her aunt at Blooms-End, whose life changes after marriage and personal loss. Her relationships with others demonstrate her adaptability and quiet strength.
Mrs. Yeobright
A cleric’s daughter and the firm matriarch of Blooms-End, who exercises significant control over her family. Her decisions are driven by her perception of social norms and her desire to protect her family’s reputation.
Damon Wildeve
An innkeeper and womanizer with engineering education, involved in complicated romantic entanglements. His actions often reflect his opportunistic and selfish nature.
Clym Yeobright
A former Paris diamond merchant who returns to Egdon Heath with idealistic goals of education reform. He becomes entwined in the events and emotions of his family and community.
Diggory Venn
A reddleman who acts as a guardian figure and moral center, often intervening in others' affairs with noble intentions. His dedication and love for Thomasin drive his actions throughout the story.
448
Novel • Fiction
Egdon Heath • Victorian Era
1878
Adult
18+ years
1040L
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