The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy
The Mayor of Casterbridge is a tragic novel set in the fictional town of Casterbridge, based on Dorchester in the English county of Dorset. The story follows the life of Michael Henchard, a skilled hay-trusser who, in a fit of drunken anger, sells his wife and daughter at a fair. When he sobers up, he is filled with regret and swears off alcohol for 21 years. He works hard and eventually becomes a successful businessman and the mayor of Casterbridge. However, his past returns to haunt him when his wife and daughter come back into his life, leading to a series of events that result in his downfall.
The 223rd greatest book of all time
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This book is on the following lists:
- 74th on The 100 Greatest British Novels (BBC)
- 115th on The Big Read (BBC)
- 149th on The Complete 500: OCLC (OCLC)
- 339th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
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