"8:30. I finished writing "The Woodlanders", I do not feel regret, on the contrary, now I feel relief." Hardy left this note after finishing his work. The novel was rewritten 8 (!) times, its themes stirred up the centuries-old foundations of the country. The novel takes the reader to the very depths of rural England. The village of Little Hintok is so small that it’s difficult to find in the woods. But it is here that tragedies of "truly Sophocles grandeur" are played out. What is the reason for these tragedies? Illustrations by Elena Odarich.
The Woodlanders is a novel by Thomas Hardy. It was serialised from May 1886 to April 1887 in Macmillan's Magazine[1] and published in three volumes in 1887.[2] It is one of his series of Wessex novels.
This is the annotated edition including a rare biographical essay on the life and works of the author. In "The Woodlanders" we have the intimate sense of the mystery and the passion of nature; again we have the wonderful power of describing rural characters; again we have the closely knit and powerful action; we even have glimpses of the old humor. Still there is an indefinable something that separates the author of "The Woodlanders" from the author of "Far from the Madding Crowd." Twelve years have made Mr. Hardy a more practised writer, they have given him a wider experience, but they have not made him any more in love with life. On the contrary, as has been indicated, they have frequently made him see little in life except a purposeless struggle in the coils of an implacable fate. And so Giles Winterbourne in "The Woodlanders" fails in the pursuit of his love, which is his life, when Farmer Oak, in "Far from the Madding Crowd" succeeds. Honesty, loyalty, and love meet death for their reward; while a barely decent repentance on the part of a rather repulsive personage is rewarded by the love of a heroine who though scarcely noble is worthy of a better fate. It, therefore, matters little when we view "The Woodlanders" as a whole, whether the descriptions of the forests to be found in its pages are unexcelled in truth and beauty even by Mr. Hardy himself, or whether the scene which describes Marty South dressing the grave of Winterbourne is the finest in the whole range of our author's novels; for the total impression produced by the book is painful because the fate that rules its characters is to Mr. Hardy, as well as to his readers, the relentless fate of alien times and peoples. And yet how powerful and original the book is, and who else among modern Englishmen could have written it!
Thomas Hardy's 'THOMAS HARDY Ultimate Collection' captures the essence of the author's prolific literary career in a single volume. This comprehensive collection includes not only 15 novels but also 53 short stories and over 650 poems, all beautifully illustrated. Hardy's writing is characterized by its vivid depiction of rural life in England, exploring themes of love, class, fate, and the role of women in society. His stories display a naturalistic style with a touch of romanticism, making his work both engaging and thought-provoking. This collection allows readers to fully immerse themselves in Hardy's captivating narratives and lyrical poetry, offering a deeper insight into the complexities of Victorian society. Thomas Hardy, a renowned English novelist and poet, drew inspiration from his own experiences growing up in rural Dorset. His background as an architect and keen observer of human nature is reflected in his intricate character studies and detailed descriptions of the English countryside. Hardy's works are marked by their questioning of traditional Victorian values and their exploration of the human condition with a sense of empathy and realism. 'THOMAS HARDY Ultimate Collection' is a must-read for any literature lover seeking a rich and diverse literary experience that spans across genres and forms. With its comprehensive selection of Hardy's work, this collection showcases the depth and breadth of his talent, firmly establishing him as a timeless literary icon.
"Great authors" are increasingly being encountered by general audiences and critics thanks to films and television programs that have been adapted from their best-known works. Thomas Hardy is one of those authors. His work has inspired filmmakers from the silent age and modern times. This book is the first book-length study in what has become a growing field of interest in film adaptations of Hardy's novels. Part One of this book analyzes the popular image of Hardy and his work, the reproduction of this image in film adaptations, and critical stereotypes about him and his fiction. Part Two juxtaposes Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd and Schlesinger's adaptation, Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Polanski's adaptation, and Hardy's Jude the Obscure and Winterbottom's adaptation. Each discussion of the novel and adaptation in question considers the novel itself, the critical history of the novel, how it has been adapted to film, and how the individual filmmakers have struggled with problems inherent in Hardy's novels. Part Three analyzes adaptations of The Woodlanders, The Scarlet Tunic, and The Claim, all of which have scarcely been seen in the United States or which were not distributed in the United States, and four television movies and miniseries that were based on Hardy's work.
