63 pages • 2 hours read
Thomas HardyThe Return of the Native
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1878A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native chronicles the lives of the inhabitants of Egdon Heath, centering on Eustacia Vye, who yearns for a more glamorous life, and her interactions with Clym Yeobright and Damon Wildeve, leading to turmoil and tragedy. Themes include class, fate, and social change, as characters navigate complex relationships and their desires for love and escape. This novel includes instances of mental health struggles, death, and drowning.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Reviews of Thomas Hardy's The Return of the Native often highlight the novel's richly drawn characters and evocative portrayal of Egdon Heath as strengths. Critics appreciate Hardy's exploration of human desires and social constraints. However, some find the plot slow-paced and dense. Overall, it remains a significant, though sometimes challenging, work in Hardy’s oeuvre.
Who Should Read The Return of the Native?
A reader who enjoys richly detailed rural settings, complex characters, and themes of fate and human yearning, akin to those found in Wuthering Heights or Tess of the d'Urbervilles, will appreciate Thomas Hardy's The Return of the Native. This novel is ideal for fans of classic literature that explores the human condition against the backdrop of nature.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
HL1040LBook Details
Classic Fiction
British Literature
Historical Fiction
Victorian Period
Society: Class
Relationships: Marriage
Emotions/Behavior: Love