
Length200h 26m
About this audiobook
Thomas Hardy's "The Complete Novels" encapsulates the author's profound exploration of the human condition through the lens of rural English life. This comprehensive collection presents his masterpieces, including "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" and "Jude the Obscure," showcasing a distinct literary style characterized by rich descriptions, psychological depth, and a deterministic worldview. Hardy's work often grapples with themes such as fate, social constraints, and moral dilemmas, set against the backdrop of a changing Victorian society that marked the decline of traditional values and the rise of modernity. Born in 1840 in Dorset, England, Hardy was influenced by the environment of the Wessex region, which serves as the rich geographical and cultural context in many of his novels. His background as an architect and his experiences in the rural working class deeply informed his appreciation for nature and the struggles of ordinary people. Hardy's own disillusionment with societal norms and the rigid structures of marriage shaped his progressive perspective, reflected in his sympathetic yet critical portrayal of his characters. For readers seeking to delve into the complexities of human relationships and societal change, "The Complete Novels" is an indispensable treasure. Hardy's ability to weave intricate narratives that challenge the reader's moral compass makes this collection not only a significant literary achievement but also a profound study of life's inherent struggles.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★★ 4.6 (2.5K)
Includes Amazon, Goodreads, LibraryThing, StoryGraph
GenreLiterary Classics, General Fiction
Length200 hrs 26 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateNov 13, 2022
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
21. Mellstock-Lane
32. The Tranter’s
43. The Assembled Quire
54. Going the Rounds
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65. The Listeners
76. Christmas Morning
87. The Tranter’s Party
98. They Dance More Wildly
109. Dick Calls at the School
111. Passing by the School
122. A Meeting of the Quire
133. A Turn in the Discussion
144. The Interview with the Vicar
155. Returning Home Ward
166. Yalbury Wood and the Keeper’s House
177. Dick Makes Himself Useful
188. Dick Meets His Father
191. Driving Out of Budmouth
202. Further Along the Road
213. A Confession
224. An Arrangement
231. Going Nutting
242. Honey-Taking, and Afterwards
253. Fancy in the Rain
264. The Spell
275. After Gaining Her Point
286. Into Temptation
297. Second Thoughts
301. ‘The Knot There’s No Untying’
312. Under the Greenwood Tree
321. Description of Farmer Oak — An Incident
332. Night — The Flock — An Interior — Another Interior
343. A Girl on Horseback — Conversation
354. Gabriel’s Resolve — The Visit — The Mistake
365. Departure of Bathsheba — A Pastoral Tragedy
376. The Fair — The Journey — The Fire
387. Recognition — A Timid Girl
398. The Malthouse — The Chat — News
409. The Homestead — A Visitor — Half-confidences
4110. Mistress and Men
4211. Outside the Barracks — Snow — A Meeting
4312. Farmers — A Rule — In Exception
4413. Sortes Sanctorum — The Valentine
4514. Effect of the Letter — Sunrise
4615. A Morning Meeting — The Letter Again
4716. All Saints’ and All Souls’
4817. In the Market-place
4918. Boldwood in Meditation — Regret
5019. The Sheep-washing — The Offer