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Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.6/5)
Genre: Classic Literature / Tragedy / Psychological Fiction / Victorian Novel

Book Review:
Thomas Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886) opens with one of the most shocking scenes in English literature: a drunken young man sells his wife and baby daughter at a public auction. Eighteen years later, that man, Michael Henchard, has become the respected mayor of the town of Casterbridge. But his past refuses to stay buried. When his wife and daughter return, and a young, ambitious rival (Donald Farfrae) enters his life, Henchard’s pride, jealousy, and violent temper destroy everything he has built. Hardy’s psychological insight is remarkable — Henchard is both brutal and noble, selfish and grand. The novel is often compared to Shakespearean tragedy. A powerful, unforgettable read. This Penguin Classics edition includes an introduction by Martin Seymour-Smith.