florante's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
fictionfan's review against another edition
5.0
Women, know your place…
George Melbury has been blessed with only one child, his daughter Grace, so he decides to spend his hard-earned money on educating her. A happy child, growing up among the woods that surround the tiny hamlet of Little Hintock and provide the people there with their living, Grace forms an early attachment to her childhood friend, Giles Winterborne, and it’s her father’s wish that she will one day marry him. But when Grace returns to Little Hintock after years spent at boarding school, she has become such a cultured lady that Mr Melbury no longer thinks Giles is good enough for her, and Grace tends to agree so doesn’t put up much of a fight. Instead, she is wooed and won by the new local doctor, impoverished scion of a once wealthy local family. Happy ending? Good grief, no! This is Hardy, so poor Grace’s troubles are just beginning…
First off, let me start by saying I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Hardy writes like a dream, and the woodland setting gives him the opportunity for some wonderful descriptive prose. Over the course of the book, the reader gets a clear picture of the society of the woodlanders, the trades they follow and how they make their living, their limited but enjoyed social life, the gradations of class even within the working population, the gender roles – a Hardy speciality – and the social and cultural gulf between the working people and the gentry.
However, I was a little puzzled as to the message Hardy was sending in this one, perhaps because I think of him as more feminist than most of his contemporaries. Here it almost feels as if he’s issuing a warning about the dangers of educating women above their station. Grace’s education changes her from a loving child into a cold-hearted little snob; from being a hearty, healthy daughter of the woods into a delicate little flower, who sews not and neither does she spin for fear of spoiling her pretty little hands. Hardy as good as states that Grace would have been a happier, better woman if she’d never been taught to think and had married within the sphere to which she was born. This hardly reads like a paean to social mobility, especially not for daughters!
I actually thought this might have been an early one, but it isn’t. It falls between The Mayor of Casterbridge and Tess of the D’Urbervilles, both of which I felt were clearer on Hardy’s views on the status of women. It’s not that he doesn’t sympathise with Grace’s position as a women educated out of her class, nor even that I feel the portrayal is inaccurate for the time. It’s simply that, whether he intended it or not, the underlying message seems to be, not that society should get a grip and accept that women should have the right to both an education and a happy life, but that it would probably be better for the poor little dears to stew in ignorance so they will make a happy child-bearer and home-cleaner for a worthy working man. I don’t want to get into spoiler territory, but even the ending left me wondering if he was really suggesting that men should be allowed to behave badly, but that women should find it in their sweet, feminine little hearts to forgive?
However, as I said, I still enjoyed the book thoroughly! I listened to the narration by Samuel West – again excellent. West father and son seem to be becoming my go-to narrators for a lot of the great English classics. 4½ stars for me, so rounded up.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
George Melbury has been blessed with only one child, his daughter Grace, so he decides to spend his hard-earned money on educating her. A happy child, growing up among the woods that surround the tiny hamlet of Little Hintock and provide the people there with their living, Grace forms an early attachment to her childhood friend, Giles Winterborne, and it’s her father’s wish that she will one day marry him. But when Grace returns to Little Hintock after years spent at boarding school, she has become such a cultured lady that Mr Melbury no longer thinks Giles is good enough for her, and Grace tends to agree so doesn’t put up much of a fight. Instead, she is wooed and won by the new local doctor, impoverished scion of a once wealthy local family. Happy ending? Good grief, no! This is Hardy, so poor Grace’s troubles are just beginning…
First off, let me start by saying I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Hardy writes like a dream, and the woodland setting gives him the opportunity for some wonderful descriptive prose. Over the course of the book, the reader gets a clear picture of the society of the woodlanders, the trades they follow and how they make their living, their limited but enjoyed social life, the gradations of class even within the working population, the gender roles – a Hardy speciality – and the social and cultural gulf between the working people and the gentry.
However, I was a little puzzled as to the message Hardy was sending in this one, perhaps because I think of him as more feminist than most of his contemporaries. Here it almost feels as if he’s issuing a warning about the dangers of educating women above their station. Grace’s education changes her from a loving child into a cold-hearted little snob; from being a hearty, healthy daughter of the woods into a delicate little flower, who sews not and neither does she spin for fear of spoiling her pretty little hands. Hardy as good as states that Grace would have been a happier, better woman if she’d never been taught to think and had married within the sphere to which she was born. This hardly reads like a paean to social mobility, especially not for daughters!
I actually thought this might have been an early one, but it isn’t. It falls between The Mayor of Casterbridge and Tess of the D’Urbervilles, both of which I felt were clearer on Hardy’s views on the status of women. It’s not that he doesn’t sympathise with Grace’s position as a women educated out of her class, nor even that I feel the portrayal is inaccurate for the time. It’s simply that, whether he intended it or not, the underlying message seems to be, not that society should get a grip and accept that women should have the right to both an education and a happy life, but that it would probably be better for the poor little dears to stew in ignorance so they will make a happy child-bearer and home-cleaner for a worthy working man. I don’t want to get into spoiler territory, but even the ending left me wondering if he was really suggesting that men should be allowed to behave badly, but that women should find it in their sweet, feminine little hearts to forgive?
However, as I said, I still enjoyed the book thoroughly! I listened to the narration by Samuel West – again excellent. West father and son seem to be becoming my go-to narrators for a lot of the great English classics. 4½ stars for me, so rounded up.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
mazza57's review against another edition
2.0
This is not my favourite Hardy novel it is cumbersome, staid and uses 100 words where one will do. it lacks the force of his other works
loolifrog's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
5.0
silkm0ths's review against another edition
3.0
you can always tell hardy is a little creepy about woman, nice description though:/
micreads's review against another edition
5.0
Hardy, Hardy, Hardy. Dopo Tess non pensavo avrei mai potuto leggere un altro suo libro capace di distruggermi tanto.
Dalla prima all'ultima pagina si respira quell'atmosfera quasi malinconica che solo l'ambientazione del bosco può portare. Sembra quasi che il bosco in sé sia un personaggio a parte, completo di tutte le sue imperfezioni, che dona tanto ma soprattutto che può togliere tanto. E i personaggi, sempre caratterizzati meravigliosamente con le loro debolezze e i loro pregi, vivono la loro vita all'interno di questa ambientazione che li rende tutti sempre più umani.
Ho amato le descrizioni di cui Hardy ancora una volta si dimostra maestro e la delicatezza della storia, come se il tutto fosse raccontato in un sussurro per poi scoppiare in tempesta negli ultimi capitoli.
Spettacolo.
E presto comprese che la più molesta delle solitudini non è quella di chi vive appartato, ma quella di chi è separato da una compagnia desiderabile.
Dalla prima all'ultima pagina si respira quell'atmosfera quasi malinconica che solo l'ambientazione del bosco può portare. Sembra quasi che il bosco in sé sia un personaggio a parte, completo di tutte le sue imperfezioni, che dona tanto ma soprattutto che può togliere tanto. E i personaggi, sempre caratterizzati meravigliosamente con le loro debolezze e i loro pregi, vivono la loro vita all'interno di questa ambientazione che li rende tutti sempre più umani.
Ho amato le descrizioni di cui Hardy ancora una volta si dimostra maestro e la delicatezza della storia, come se il tutto fosse raccontato in un sussurro per poi scoppiare in tempesta negli ultimi capitoli.
Spettacolo.
E presto comprese che la più molesta delle solitudini non è quella di chi vive appartato, ma quella di chi è separato da una compagnia desiderabile.
hannah_em's review against another edition
2.0
I could not get into this book. I found it difficult, the characters were flat and the plot line didn't keep my interest.
rachelmac476's review against another edition
4.0
4 1/2 stars
This is my first Thomas Hardy book and it will not be the last. I loved this and had every intention of giving it 5 stars, however, I have really mixed feelings about the ending. Still a wonderful read and I will be purchasing another of his novels to read soon.
This is my first Thomas Hardy book and it will not be the last. I loved this and had every intention of giving it 5 stars, however, I have really mixed feelings about the ending. Still a wonderful read and I will be purchasing another of his novels to read soon.
bibliobethreads's review against another edition
4.0
I read The Woodlanders as part of #thegreatthomashardyreadalong2022 as organised by the lovely @pezzasclassicbooks and @annathebooksiread and honestly this group has been one of my favourite things this year. I’ve loved getting to know Hardy a bit more as a writer and marvelling at his characterisation, nature writing and heady mix between melancholy and laughter.
The Woodlanders was no exception. It follows a small community who base their livelihood around the nearby forest. Our heroine Grace Melbury has returned from boarding school and has had a prior understanding with a humble woodlander, Giles Winterbourne however her father has set his sights higher - on the new local doctor in fact, Edred Fitzpiers as a more suitable marriage prospect. After rejecting Giles, the reader is taken along a fascinating narrative which encompasses betrayal, ideals of class, honour, pride and devastation.
I don’t want to give too much away about the novel, save to say that if you’re used to Hardy and the way he writes, you’ll be aware that there is a real mixture between the amusing and the somber moments. I have to admit, I didn’t rate Grace very highly at the beginning ;(she’s no Tess of the D’Urbervilles!) and it was only halfway through where I found Hardy put some more meat on the bones of her character and gave her a well needed backbone (and some excellent snarky lines!).
As I expected, some of the other character development - in particular Giles, Fitzpiers and the widower Felice Charmond was so effective that I frequently found myself either sympathetic, rolling my eyes or even incensed by certain behaviours. He really knows how to write individuals that get under your skin and make you feel a certain way either positively or negatively. That’s one of the very many reasons why I’ll always look forward to reading another Thomas Hardy novel and I already can’t wait for our next read!
3.5 stars
The Woodlanders was no exception. It follows a small community who base their livelihood around the nearby forest. Our heroine Grace Melbury has returned from boarding school and has had a prior understanding with a humble woodlander, Giles Winterbourne however her father has set his sights higher - on the new local doctor in fact, Edred Fitzpiers as a more suitable marriage prospect. After rejecting Giles, the reader is taken along a fascinating narrative which encompasses betrayal, ideals of class, honour, pride and devastation.
I don’t want to give too much away about the novel, save to say that if you’re used to Hardy and the way he writes, you’ll be aware that there is a real mixture between the amusing and the somber moments. I have to admit, I didn’t rate Grace very highly at the beginning ;(she’s no Tess of the D’Urbervilles!) and it was only halfway through where I found Hardy put some more meat on the bones of her character and gave her a well needed backbone (and some excellent snarky lines!).
As I expected, some of the other character development - in particular Giles, Fitzpiers and the widower Felice Charmond was so effective that I frequently found myself either sympathetic, rolling my eyes or even incensed by certain behaviours. He really knows how to write individuals that get under your skin and make you feel a certain way either positively or negatively. That’s one of the very many reasons why I’ll always look forward to reading another Thomas Hardy novel and I already can’t wait for our next read!
3.5 stars
travelsalongmybookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
✨BOOK REVIEW✨
The Woodlanders - Thomas Hardy
Well we are back with the next instalment in thegreatthomashardyreadalong2022 and this is just classic Hardy. I feel I am getting to know him much better by now, but he still has the capacity to drop in some surprises for a reader and if I’d been a Victorian reader I think they would have felt like bombshells!
We have a classic set up, a young woman, Grace Melbury is in a bit of a triangle for her hand in marriage with Giles Winterbourne, a solid, reliable, gentle woodlander and Edred Fitzpiers, the new professional doctor. Grace’s status has been elevated by her father’s wish for her to be educated and he feels Giles is now beneath her, even though they had been promised to each other. Grace’s head is turned by Fitzpiers and of course they marry. Fitzpiers is the usual unpleasant character, there is adultery with petticoat numbers 1 and 2. Grace’s attitude and treatment of them must have been quite shocking I think at the time of writing and there is even divorce bandied about. We have also mixed in the tragedy - I always know it’s coming, but my heart breaks, there is Hardy’s little gang of old gossips and Marty South, who is not in in a lot, but was my favourite character, sells her hair like Fantine, but is, it seems to me almost the wisest most sensible of the lot of them!
Chuck in the glorious descriptions of nature, me getting really quite upset when he kills off one of the characters - this is not a spoiler because he always does it! and you have his best book yet!
Onwards to Casterbridge!…..
✩✩✩✩
The Woodlanders - Thomas Hardy
Well we are back with the next instalment in thegreatthomashardyreadalong2022 and this is just classic Hardy. I feel I am getting to know him much better by now, but he still has the capacity to drop in some surprises for a reader and if I’d been a Victorian reader I think they would have felt like bombshells!
We have a classic set up, a young woman, Grace Melbury is in a bit of a triangle for her hand in marriage with Giles Winterbourne, a solid, reliable, gentle woodlander and Edred Fitzpiers, the new professional doctor. Grace’s status has been elevated by her father’s wish for her to be educated and he feels Giles is now beneath her, even though they had been promised to each other. Grace’s head is turned by Fitzpiers and of course they marry. Fitzpiers is the usual unpleasant character, there is adultery with petticoat numbers 1 and 2. Grace’s attitude and treatment of them must have been quite shocking I think at the time of writing and there is even divorce bandied about. We have also mixed in the tragedy - I always know it’s coming, but my heart breaks, there is Hardy’s little gang of old gossips and Marty South, who is not in in a lot, but was my favourite character, sells her hair like Fantine, but is, it seems to me almost the wisest most sensible of the lot of them!
Chuck in the glorious descriptions of nature, me getting really quite upset when he kills off one of the characters - this is not a spoiler because he always does it! and you have his best book yet!
Onwards to Casterbridge!…..
✩✩✩✩