Customer Reviews
Hardy at his best - By: Mr. P. J. Rooke, 04 Jul 2008 
This for me is Hardy's greatest novel, written at the peak of his career. The character of Henchard, although deeply flawed, nonetheless captures the reader's attention both during & after reading the novel. His journey from young & despondent husband & father, through to his time as the mayor & his eventual demise, prove most gripping. This novel along with Tess, Jude the Obscure & The Return of the Native make up Hardy's tragic Wessex novels, & although alll of them are rather sad & to an extent depressing, The Mayor of Casterbridge reallly does stand out as the most satisfying read that chronicles the shift away from older models of masculinity towards the beginnings of modernity that Hardy himself lived through during his long life. Don't forget about the genius of this man's writing!
Excellent - By: Avril, 13 Jun 2008 As per the previous reviewer it is very disappointing to see so few reviews for Hardy on amazon. This is an excellent book with great characters & plot line. Henchard's flawed character is brilliantly drawn. I thought about this book for a long time afterwards. It is such a pity that Hardy's novel writing career was cut short following the publication of Jude.
a "stood the test of time " classic - By: J. Wilkie, 22 Sep 2007 only one review????
are we just taking this book for granted??? Does no-one read Hardy these days???
Plot, setting, character alll marvellously realised & fused in a great tale with philososophic undertones.
No more to be said.
A fantastic read - By: , 06 Apr 2000 I received this book as a Christmas present along with various other books. I left this one to last because I thought it might be hard going. It turned out to be one of the best books I've ever read, The characters are brilliant, my interest was held the whole way through, & it most definately wasn't a hard read. Now forTess of the D'urbervilles!
