The mayor of Casterbridge / Thomas Hardy ; with an introduction by Rick Moody.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hardy, Thomas, 1840-1928.

Contributor:

Moody, Rick.

Series:

Oxford world's classics (Oxford University Press) ; 19.

Oxford world's classics ; 19

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Fathers and daughters--Fiction.

Fathers and daughters.

Runaway husbands--Fiction.

Runaway husbands.

Wessex (England)--Fiction.

Wessex (England).

Men--England--Fiction.

Men.

England.

Mayors--Fiction.

Mayors.

Genre:

Psychological fiction.

Fiction.

Physical Description:

xxiv, 335 pages ; 20 cm.

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2003.

Summary:

Featuring a stunning Introduction by the 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 Hardy's critically acclaimed novel. In a surprisingly personal essay, Moody names the tragedy "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 novel opens with an act of such heartlessness and cruelty that it still shocks 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. When his wife and daughter, Elizabeth-Jane, return to Casterbridge 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 his rival owns his 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.

Notes:

"First published as a World's classics paperback [edited by Dale Kramer], 1987. Reissued as an Oxford world's classics paperback, 1998. First published as an Oxford world's classics hardback [in small format with new introd.], 2001. First issued as an Oxford University Press paperback, 2003"--T.p. verso.

ISBN:

0195168445

OCLC:

53859640