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Thomas Hardy

The Return of the Native

Thomas HardyFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1878

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Book Brief

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Thomas Hardy

The Return of the Native

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1878
Book Details
Pages

448

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Egdon Heath • Victorian era

Publication Year

1878

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

1040L

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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

4.1

39,268 ratings

68%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

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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 this

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.

4.1

39,268 ratings

68%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

448

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Egdon Heath • Victorian era

Publication Year

1878

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

1040L

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