nate_meyers's review against another edition
5.0
The widespread (perhaps verified) rumor is the Hardy considered Woodlanders his best work. He's wrong, but it's still good. The Woodlanders is often discussed alongside Return of the Native for their many similarities. But (spoiler alert) I thought Woodlanders was better. First I'll list the similarities then tell you why Woodlanders was better.
Like Return of the Native, Woodlanders explores the theme of educated sons and daughters returning to their hometown and the differences both education and city-life have wrought in such individuals. Like Return of the Native, Woodlanders has an educated, free-spirited, and passionate lady living in a small rural village and hating every minute of it (Eustacia Vye, Felice Charmond). Both books have four central characters (two males and females) tangled in romantic relationships, with the actual pairings mis-matched from the natural pairings. Both books have a secondary character working in the background who is both the most noble and most badass character (Diggory Venn, Marty South). And both books have a parent whose opinion weighs heavily in the romantic engagements of their children.
Now, here are three reasons why Woodlanders was better. First, Hardy moved the parent-child dynamic to the foreground of this book such that Grace Melbury's course in life was charted always for the worse by her father's intentional and unintentional acts. In doing this, Hardy made pointed and repetitive criticisms about the patriarchal structure of society and the connection of relationships to societal advancements.
Second, Hardy's criticisms about both religious dogma and society's views of marital duties were more pointed and focused. Without spoiling much, Grace Melbury marries Eldred Fitzpiers. While he's an unfocused doctor whose lack of focus prevents career advancement, he's still a man of status. But he's also a man who becomes infatuated and romantically entangled with any girl that suits his fancy. While Eldred runs off with said girls, Grace quells her own love for another man out of marital duty and respect for her father. Throughout the book, the reader can't help feeling frustrated that Grace won't move on and make the life for herself that she deserves. This is much the point, and both Hardy's narratives and explicit and implicit criticisms hit home. By comparison, Hardy's messages were more mixed and meandering in Return of the Native.
Third, the setting and ending were better. The woodlands provided more variety and character context than Egdon Heath. Likewise, in the end of Return of the Native the characters who should end up with each other do. This is not the case in the Woodlanders. Not only do Grace and Fitzpiers end up together, but Hardy toys with the reader by laying a trap where one of the two is likely to die. While each avoids the trap, their life together is likely a crueler fate than death (as made explicit in the talk of the townfolk that ends the novel). For Hardy, a more tragic ending is always better.
Read this book, it's awesome even if it's no Tess.
Like Return of the Native, Woodlanders explores the theme of educated sons and daughters returning to their hometown and the differences both education and city-life have wrought in such individuals. Like Return of the Native, Woodlanders has an educated, free-spirited, and passionate lady living in a small rural village and hating every minute of it (Eustacia Vye, Felice Charmond). Both books have four central characters (two males and females) tangled in romantic relationships, with the actual pairings mis-matched from the natural pairings. Both books have a secondary character working in the background who is both the most noble and most badass character (Diggory Venn, Marty South). And both books have a parent whose opinion weighs heavily in the romantic engagements of their children.
Now, here are three reasons why Woodlanders was better. First, Hardy moved the parent-child dynamic to the foreground of this book such that Grace Melbury's course in life was charted always for the worse by her father's intentional and unintentional acts. In doing this, Hardy made pointed and repetitive criticisms about the patriarchal structure of society and the connection of relationships to societal advancements.
Second, Hardy's criticisms about both religious dogma and society's views of marital duties were more pointed and focused. Without spoiling much, Grace Melbury marries Eldred Fitzpiers. While he's an unfocused doctor whose lack of focus prevents career advancement, he's still a man of status. But he's also a man who becomes infatuated and romantically entangled with any girl that suits his fancy. While Eldred runs off with said girls, Grace quells her own love for another man out of marital duty and respect for her father. Throughout the book, the reader can't help feeling frustrated that Grace won't move on and make the life for herself that she deserves. This is much the point, and both Hardy's narratives and explicit and implicit criticisms hit home. By comparison, Hardy's messages were more mixed and meandering in Return of the Native.
Third, the setting and ending were better. The woodlands provided more variety and character context than Egdon Heath. Likewise, in the end of Return of the Native the characters who should end up with each other do. This is not the case in the Woodlanders. Not only do Grace and Fitzpiers end up together, but Hardy toys with the reader by laying a trap where one of the two is likely to die. While each avoids the trap, their life together is likely a crueler fate than death (as made explicit in the talk of the townfolk that ends the novel). For Hardy, a more tragic ending is always better.
Read this book, it's awesome even if it's no Tess.
saralynnburnett's review
5.0
It's been a while since I read any of the classics I came up on and The Woodlanders had always been on my list and pre-pandemic nostalgia put me in the mood for some 1800s style drama and wow did this one deliver!
The setting was unique, the community was tight, and the dithering ample.
It kicks off when one of the hamlet's women is coerced into selling her hair so a lady of fortune who lives in the area can have a nice wig. And trust - the hair comes back into play later in a major way! Grace, a wood merchant's daughter returns home after what some start to think is "too much schooling" - she has airs now. Her former love, a wood cutter / apple cider maker is no longer good enough. Enter the dashing doctor who also likes to boink women of both "high and low birth" on sly and the story really gets rolling. This isn't your typical love triangle. It's more of a pentagon!
I found it funny, heartbreaking, and just all around amusing so now I'm on the hunt for more Victorian realist tales that may have slipped by.
The setting was unique, the community was tight, and the dithering ample.
It kicks off when one of the hamlet's women is coerced into selling her hair so a lady of fortune who lives in the area can have a nice wig. And trust - the hair comes back into play later in a major way! Grace, a wood merchant's daughter returns home after what some start to think is "too much schooling" - she has airs now. Her former love, a wood cutter / apple cider maker is no longer good enough. Enter the dashing doctor who also likes to boink women of both "high and low birth" on sly and the story really gets rolling. This isn't your typical love triangle. It's more of a pentagon!
I found it funny, heartbreaking, and just all around amusing so now I'm on the hunt for more Victorian realist tales that may have slipped by.
maxnic's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kaileycool's review
5.0
Read for my Hardy and Protomodernism class. Probably my favorite so far! Interesting in its portrayal of marriage as an emotional trap rather than an economic one.
muuske's review
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
yaredimpp's review against another edition
3.0
3.5, la prosa de Hardy es hermosa y por eso sigo queriendo leer todo lo que hizo. Sin embargo esta vez no llegue a hacer conexión con los personajes, tal vez porque estoy más acostumbrada a que sus historias son más trágicas y el sufrimiento de los personajes lo sientes como si lo tuvieras frente a ti. Pero esta vez no fue así.
A pesar de ello, el bosque en si para mí se vuelve el punto principal quería saber más de sus árboles, frutos, cómo hacían la Sidra, las flores, etc. Como siempre vemos una crítica social significativa.
Sigo prefiriendo Tess como el número 1 de Hardy.
A pesar de ello, el bosque en si para mí se vuelve el punto principal quería saber más de sus árboles, frutos, cómo hacían la Sidra, las flores, etc. Como siempre vemos una crítica social significativa.
Sigo prefiriendo Tess como el número 1 de Hardy.
dustfeather's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
a_valerie's review
2.0
My first Thomas Hardy book. An interesting read but I found Grace pretty awful. Poor Giles :(
almondmilklattes's review against another edition
2.0
2/5 - Not the one for me. Knew that going in with the synopsis.
thepageunfolds's review
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0