Thomas Hardy - which is your favourite novel?

[MiddleAgeMiddleEngland]

Just that, really. I'm aiming to re-read them all over the next year or so, can't decide which I love best, possibly The Woodlanders or Far From The Madding Crowd.

[DuchessofMalfi]

I've only read two - The Mayor of Casterbridge, and Tess of the D'Urbervilles, both when I was at school (and recently listened to Tess on audio book as well). Shameful, as I live in Dorset :o I'm aiming to put that right over the next year or so too. I think I might make Far From the Madding Crowd my next one.

[LindaMcCartneySausage]

Definitely Tess Of The D'Urbervilles. I've also got a soft spot for A Pair Of Blue Eyes.

[KindleMum]

The Mayor of Casterbridge. I think it's a great novel and I still read the old, falling-apart Penguin classic that my long-dead dad gave me. He wrote a birthday message to me on the cover so even when the glue entirely gives up, I'll still keep it.

Quite fond of Tess and Jude too. Not so keen on Far from the Madding Crowd. The other novels are much under-rated in my opinion. Oh, I'm going to have to re-read one now!

[MortaIWombat]

Ooh, me too, Linda. Don't know why it's not better known.

[BigGiantCowWithAKnockKnockTail]

I love Tess and my BF's is the Mayor of Casterbridge.
The Woodlanders put me off Hardy for years after reading it in English lessons aged about 14. I'm so glad my grandfather got me back into reading him.

[MamaMary]

Love The Mayor of Casterbridge! I think it's his best. I also like Far from the Madding Crowd.

A Pair of Blue Eyes is quite immature compared to his others - read it recently.

[reallytrulydisgusting]

Love, love, love Far from the Madding Crowd and really wanted to name DD Bathsheba.

Haven't read The Mayor of Casterbridge - will put that on the list.

[LindaMcCartneySausage]

Yes, like the Mayor Of Casterbridge very much too. The Furmity Woman is comedy and Michael Henchard is a fantastic character.

A Pair Of Blue Eyes is quite immature, but lovely too. It's also rather erotic in parts - when Elfride knots her knickers into ropes in the cliff top rescue it's almost Victorian porn

[MiddleAgeMiddleEngland]

Does anyone like Return of the Native? I think it's one of his best. (wanted to name a son Diggory, but perhaps fortunately didn't have one....)

reallytrully - I love the name Bathsheba!

I read The Hand of Ethelberta recently and liked it, but it wasn't among my favourites.

[Parsnipcake]

The woodlanders and the Mayor of casterbridge are my favourites. I love tess and Jude but they are sooooo melancholy. My dh teaches mayor of casterbridge to his GCSE class every year and makes me go in with a pot of Furmity.

[Snazzynewyear]

The Woodlanders! Possibly my own overall fave although I really like The Return of the Native too.

[PaddingtonBearsDuffleCoat]

I like Return of the Native too despite studying that and Toss of the D'Urbervilles at school. Eustacia Vye is such a feisty heroine, especially compared to drippy Tess.

[MiddleAgeMiddleEngland]

Think I'll re-read A Pair of Blue Eyes next then. I haven't read it for years, so can't really remember the plot.

[Wolfcub]

far from the madding crowd is my favourite, I wanted to like jude the obscure but it was just too depressing

[madlane]

Read FFMC at school years ago but overanalysed it (ruin a good book) so mine is Tess (appalling the way women treated). Thank goodness born in West in 20th Century! Clare Tomalin wrote a tome on Thomas Hardy which is intriguing.

[LindaMcCartneySausage]

MiddleageMiddleEngland - It's quite interesting reading the Claire Tomalin biography before or after reading A Pair Of Blue Eyes, because APOBE is a based on Hardy's meeting and early relationship with his wife Emma. The biography is a good read in any case.

just realised I've never read The Woodlanders. I'm off to download it on to the Kindle. You've inspired me.

FFMC is good, Bathsheba has real spirit, but Gabriel Oak and all the dying sheep is so depressing.

[MiddleAgeMiddleEngland]

Linda - Thank you, I think I'll get the Tomalin biography. I've got the Robert Gittings one, but hopefully this will be a different slant on TH's life.

Agree about Gabriel Oak's sheep, but at least FFMC does have a relatively happy ending, more so than Tess, Jude or The Woodlanders, anyway.

[tumbletumble]

Tess is my favourite

[gailforce1]

Read some of Hardy's poetry for A level and loved it. Must have a rummage and see if I still have a copy and re-read.

[AgnesBligg]

hmm, maybe Jude.

[NotGoodNotBad]

Jude the Obscure. Poor guy.

[bimblebee]

Tess is my favourite, with The Mayor of Casterbridge a close second. Jude was quite a brave novel of its time but quite depressing!
Hardy also wrote some really good short stories - give Wessex Tales a try before getting into his novels.

[DuchessofMalfi]

I remember studying The Mayor of Casterbridge at school and sobbing my heart out at the end of it :o. I bet it doesn't do that this time when I re-read it! Reckon Jude might though. I'll keep that one for another time. Might be tempted to give Wessex Tales a go. Thanks for the recommendation bimble :)

[Campaspe]

Jude is my favourite "done becos we are too menny", absolutely heartbreaking. I quite like the Native Middleage, but I will confess to skipping the opening, in which Hardy writes a very long description of hte moors.

[moonshine]

Love Far from the Madding Crowd (and loved the Julie Christie film). Always really loved 'The Withered Arm' - it's the only short story of his which I remember now.