Hardy: The Mayor of Casterbridge

By: Thomas Hardy

Narrated by: Anton Lesser

Michael Henchard, drunk at a country fair, sells his wife and baby daughter for five guineas. The following day, in despair and remorse, he forswears alcohol and sets out to redeem himself. In time, he becomes a respected merchant and eventually the mayor of the town. But Fate is not to be so easily appeased, and Henchard finds his past actions resonate through and destroy his plans for the future.

One of the greatest novels in the English language, The Mayor of Casterbridge sees Thomas Hardy at his best, bringing landscape and richly imagined characters to life, and setting the hope of love against the forces of Providence.

Download the accompanying reference guide.Public Domain (P)2010 Naxos Audiobook

Good book with usual Hardy tragedy

In reading Hardy you don’t expect Hollywood endings. What you can expect—-and get here are moving portraits of complex flaws protagonists. Well done.

Classic Hardy - a great novel

I studied this novel in school 45 years ago. Although I remembered the basic story and some details, the novel and the writing is so rich that I could have been reading it for the first time. The story is excruciatingly tragic, and possibly Hardy could be criticized here, as in some of his other novels, for a certain amount of gratuitous sadness. Even so, it's one of the great novels of the 19th century. The narrator, Aton Lesser, is, as always, superb.

Perfection

The book is beautiful, and the reading is one of the best I’ve ever heard. The combination of the author, Thomas Hardy, and the reader, Anton Lesser, is nothing less than perfection.

Classic Hardy

What made the experience of listening to Hardy: The Mayor of Casterbridge the most enjoyable?

The reader was excellent. And the story was tight and true to his development of the characters.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hardy: The Mayor of Casterbridge?

The ending.

What about Anton Lesser’s performance did you like?

Excellent depiction of each character.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Henchard's inevitable return to his beginning.

Any additional comments?

Hardy is not optimistic about human nature or life but quite realistic. So much of his depiction of us human beings still rings true--a classic.

Excellent Book, Hard to understand the Narrator

Loved the story but very hard to understand the narrator at times... very strong accents. but other than that good book.