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Cover of The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy

The Return of the Native

  • 470 pages · about 8 hours
  • First published 1878
  • 205 editions
  • Free to read

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1 About this book

The Return of the Native is the sixth published novel by English author Thomas Hardy. It first appeared in the magazine Belgravia, a publication known for its sensationalism, and was presented in 12 monthly instalments from 9 January to 19 December 1878.

Because of the novel's controversial themes, Hardy had some difficulty finding a publisher; reviews, however, though somewhat mixed, were generally positive. In the 20th century, The Return of the Native became one of Hardy's popular and highly regarded novels.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Good for readers who want: a love story, a classic, and a long read.

  • Relationships
  • Country life
  • Romance
  • Classics
  • Romance Ingles
  • Courtship
  • Mothers and sons
  • Married people

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3 About Thomas Hardy

1840–1928

Thomas Hardy (2 June 1840 – 11 January 1928) was an English novelist, poet and architect. A Victorian realist in the tradition of George Eliot, he was influenced both in his novels and in his poetry by Romanticism, including the poetry of William Wordsworth. He was highly critical of much in Victorian society, especially on the declining status of rural people in Britain such as those from his native South West England.

Bio adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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