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Wessex Tales Audiobook
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(3.04) - 451 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
"Wessex Tales" is a captivating collection of short stories where Thomas Hardy delves into the rustic life and deep-rooted customs of the fictional Wessex region, echoing the real landscapes and towns of southwestern England. Each tale, rich in folklore and local color, explores the complexities of human emotions, the harsh realities of rural life, and the immutable force of fate. From the tragic to the comedic, Hardy's vivid characterization and keen social commentary reveal the profound beauty and sorrow woven into the fabric of everyday existence.
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"Thomas Hardy is probably my favorite author from this time period. He did such a good job at accurately portraying human nature, and his writing style is beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed reading these short stories, and I look forward to my next book from him."
— Angela (4 out of 5 stars)
Wessex Tales Listener Reviews
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" only rated on the withered arm story. "
— Charlotte, 1/11/2014 -
" Most of the stories are imbued with Hardy's characteristic fatalism. My favorite one is the Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion. "
— Ariane, 12/26/2013 -
" Some absolutely spanking Wessex vignettes are to be discovered in this selection. The journey to the house in 'The Three Strangers' is particularly memorable. "
— Lloyd, 12/10/2013 -
" I first read Thomas Hardy in my very first course at ASU. It was Critical Reading and Writing About Literature and the professor was a very eccentric woman, Kathryn Harris. I hated that class, but I'm glad she introduced me to Thomas Hardy. "
— David, 11/12/2013 -
" Thomas Hardy didn't become The Thomas hardy for nothing. "
— Sarah, 8/6/2013 -
" Loved this. Each story is like a super-concentrated shot of bitterness and misery. Looking for all the depression a Hardy novel can muster but don't have the time for hundreds of pages? This is your book! "
— e, 7/2/2013 -
" A collection of short stories. Some of these were excellent, in particular, "The Withered Hand." Others were just OK. "
— Kevin, 5/30/2013 -
" What a strange book of short stories. Each has the classic Hardy ironic twist, but compacted into fifty pages, and without the long-winded descriptions of the countryside. "
— Robert, 5/7/2013 -
" I loved these a lot. Yet more short stories to add to the list for this year. I never usually read short stories. Wth, 2008? Wth? "
— Gilly, 11/20/2012 -
" I love stories from the 1800's. Nothing about people has changed. At all. "
— Courtney, 10/17/2012 -
" A series of short stories by Thomas Hardy dealing with the rural life of Wessex County, England during the first half of the 19th century. Very enjoyable, but for me they are not up to the caliber of his novels. "
— Craig, 9/23/2012 -
" Good variety of short stories; well-written and surprisingly fresh. One short piece (1804) is the only weak entry in the collection. "
— Paul, 9/3/2012 -
" This is a really enjoyable collection of short stories with morals or twists - or both - and some well drawn characters. An easy-to-read collection, it would provide a gentle introduction to Hardy's style of writing. "
— Sandra-Jane, 8/28/2012 -
" As always, Thomas Hardy's writing creates a vivid sense of place and of the people who live there. He creates a world which is often harsh, sometimes amusing, but always compelling, and the stories in this collection make fine companions to his longer works. "
— Antony, 6/26/2012
About Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy (1840–1928), English poet, dramatist, and novelist, was born on the Egdon Heath in Dorset. He studied in Dorchester and apprenticed to an architect before leaving for London, where he began to write. Unable to find a public for his poetry, which idealized the rural life, he turned to the novel and met with success as well as controversy. The strong public reaction against some of his darker themes turned him back to writing verse. Today several of his novels are considered masterpieces of tragedy.