Staff Pick
This dark novel begins with a man who, in a drunken rage, sells his wife and daughter at a fair. Full of remorse upon realizing what he has done, he vows to redeem his life — and does so. Yet his secret weighs heavily on him. Hardy is his usual brooding, heartrending self here, but to a beautiful, profound effect. Recommended By Dianah H., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Featuring a stunning Introduction by popular author of
The Ice Storm and
Demonology Rick Moody, this special edition of
The Mayor of Casterbridge is a tie-in to the A&E Television Network adaptation of Thomas Hardy's critically acclaimed novel. In a surprisingly personal essay, Moody names the saga "the first great novel about alcoholism," and delivers penetrating insight into the character of Michael Henchard and the crippling deficiencies that foretell his ruin.
The Mayor of Casterbridge opens with an act of such heartlessness and cruelty that it still shocks readers today. Michael Henchard, an out-of-work hay-trusser, gets drunk at a fair and for five guineas sells his wife and child to a sailor. When the horror of his act sets in the following morning, the wretched Henchard swears he will not touch alcohol for twenty-one years. Through hard work and acumen, he becomes rich, respected, and eventually the mayor of Casterbridge. Eighteen years pass before Henchard's fateful oath comes back to claim its due. Upon the return to Casterbridge of his wife and daughter, Elizabeth-Jane, Henchard's fortunes steadily decline. He clashes with his business assistant, Donald Farfrae, who soon becomes his major rival. He ruins his business through impulsive speculations and takes to drinking again. One by one he forfeits his possessions and relationships to Farfrae. Soon Farfrae owns Henchard's business and his house, has gained the affection of his lover Lucetta, and has even become the mayor of Casterbridge. In a final insult, Farfrae marries Elizabeth-Jane. Having lost everything he once possessed, Henchard is forced to face himself in his most tragic and desperate moment.
Synopsis
This is a paperback reprint of our recently published mini-hardback, featuring an introduction by Rick Moody. The cover has already been created with A&E.
Synopsis
'Set against the backdrop of peaceful south-west England, where Thomas Hardy spent much of his youth,
The Mayor of Casterbridge captures the author\'s unique genius for depicting the absurdity underlying much of the sorrow and humor in our lives.
In the stunning opening chapter of The Mayor of Casterbridge, a drunken hay-trusser, Michael Henchard, sells his wife and daughter for five guineas to a sailor. The book follows Henchard who, overcome by guilt after the sale of his wife, swears he will not have another drink of alcohol for twenty years. By hard work, he becomes a wealthy dealer in corn and hay, and eventually the mayor of Casterbridge. But after eighteen years, his wife and child Elizabeth-Jane return and, from this point on, his fortunes decline, in part through bad luck and in part through his own obstinate nature. In the end, his rival Farfrae has Henchard\'s business, his house, Lucretta, and he even becomes mayor of Casterbridge. Henchard eventually dies in a miserable hut on Egdon Heath.
This special edition of The Mayor of Casterbridge features a splendid introduction by fiction writer Rick Moody, who calls Hardy\'s classic \"the first great novel about alcoholism.\"'
About the Author
Rick Moody is the author of
Demonology, The Ice Storm, Purple America, and
Garden State, among other works. He lives on Fisher's Island, New York.