The Return of the Native

(1895)

"To sorrow

I bade good morrow,

And thought to leave her far away behind;

But cheerly, cheerly,

She loves me dearly;

She is so constant to me, and so kind.

I would deceive her,

And so leave her,

But ah! she is so constant and so kind."

Author's Preface

The date at which the following events are assumed to have occurred may be set down as between 1840 and 1850, when the old watering-place herein called "Budmouth" still retained sufficient afterglow from its Georgian gaiety and prestige to lend it an absorbing attractiveness to the romantic and imaginative soul of a lonely dweller inland.

Under the general name of "Egdon Heath," which has been given to the sombre scene of the story, are united or typified heaths of various real names, to the number of at least a dozen; these being virtually one in character and aspect, though their original unity, or partial unity, is now somewhat disguised by intrusive strips and slices brought under the plough with varying degrees of success, or planted to woodland.

It is pleasant to dream that some spot in the extensive tract whose south-western quarter is here described, may be the heath of that traditionary King of WessexLear.

T.H., July, 1895

Postscript

To prevent disappointment to searchers for scenery it should be added that though the action of the narrative is supposed to proceed in the central and most secluded part of the heaths united into one whole, as above described, certain topographical features resembling those delineated really lie on the margin of the waste, several miles to the westward of the centre. In some other respects also there has been a bringing together of scattered characteristics.

The first edition of this novel was published in three volumes in 1878.

T.H., April, 1912

This novel revolves around five people mainly, and the Egdon Heath. Clym, the native who returns to Egdon changes the life of Mrs. Yeobright, Eustacia, Thomasin, Mr, Wildeve and his own. Eustacia, the heroine and Clym are two contrasting characters beautifully sketched by the author. But I personally liked Mr. Venn, the reddleman the most, maybe because of his presence at the right places, at the right times. Even the Rustics play an important part in this novel. Hardy's use of a barren heath and his art of characterisation are truly remarkable.--Submitted by renderings2u