This novel by Thomas Hardy was first published anonymously in 1872. It spawned the hugely popular series of novels called Wessex. The plot of the novel is set in a leisurely mid-nineteenth century town where Dick Dewy, a member of the church choir, falls for Fancy Day, the new school teacher. The plot moves at a nuanced pace through their courtship and engagement whence Maybold, a local rich man, also falls for Fancy and starts courting her. The narrative beautifully covers the social dilemmas and aspirations of the nineteenth century and makes for a good light read.
