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The Return of the Native

Fiction | 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

Character List

Eustacia Vye

A passionate and independent woman living on Egdon Heath, known for her striking beauty and desire for a more exciting life than the one the heath offers. She uses a telescope and hourglass, representing her desire to observe and control her surroundings.

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.

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.

An innkeeper and womanizer with engineering education, involved in complicated romantic entanglements. His actions often reflect his opportunistic and selfish nature.

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.

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.

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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