The Mayor of Casterbridge

"The Mayor of Casterbridge" is a novel written by the English author Thomas Hardy. It was first published in 1886 and is one of Hardy's most well-known works.
The novel is set in the fictional town of Casterbridge and tells the story of Michael Henchard, a poor and unemployed hay-trusser who, in a fit of drunkenness, sells his wife and infant daughter at a fair. Years later, Henchard has become the respected and wealthy mayor of Casterbridge. The novel explores themes of fate, redemption, and the consequences of one's past actions as Henchard's past deeds come back to haunt him.
Thomas Hardy is known for his depictions of rural life in England and his exploration of complex characters facing moral and social dilemmas. "The Mayor of Casterbridge" is one of his major works, characterized by its rich character development and exploration of human flaws and strengths. The novel is often studied for its portrayal of Victorian society and its enduring themes.

Thomas Hardy OM (2 June 1840 - 11 January 1928) was an English novelist and poet. A Victorian realist in the tradition of George Eliot, he was influenced both in his novels and in his poetry by Romanticism, including the poetry of William Wordsworth. He was highly critical of much in Victorian society, especially on the declining status of rural people in Britain, such as those from his native South West England.
While Hardy wrote poetry throughout his life and regarded himself primarily as a poet, his first collection was not published until 1898. Initially, he gained fame as the author of novels such as Far from the Madding Crowd (1874), The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886), Tess of the d'Urbervilles (1891), and Jude the Obscure (1895). During his lifetime, Hardy's poetry was acclaimed by younger poets (particularly the Georgians) who viewed him as a mentor. After his death his poems were lauded by Ezra Pound, W. H. Auden and Philip Larkin.