Audio only
Length15h 46m
About this audiobook
After the great success of "Far From the Madding Crowd", its editor, Leslie Stephen, asked Thomas Hardy for another novel. "The Hand of Ethelberta", Hardy’s fifth published novel, first appeared in the Cornhill Magazine between July 1875 and May 1876.
In "The Hand of Ethelberta", Hardy drew on conventions of popular romances, illustrated weeklies, plays, fashion plates, and even his wife's diary in this comic story of a woman in control of her destiny.
Ethelberta was raised in humble circumstances but became a governess and consequently, at the age of 18, married well. However, her husband died two weeks after the wedding. Her father-in-law, Lord Petherwin, died shortly afterwards. Ethelberta (now 21) lives with her mother-in-law, Lady Petherwin. In the three years that have elapsed since her marriage, Ethelberta has been treated to foreign travel and further privileges by Lady Petherwin but restricted from seeing her own family. The story follows Ethelberta's career as a famous poetess and storyteller. Meanwhile, she struggles to support her family and conceal the fact that her father is a butler. Ethelberta easily attracts four very persistent suitors but is reluctant to give her much-coveted hand.
Audiobook details
GenreGeneral Fiction, Romance, Children's Literature
Length15 hrs 46 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateOct 11, 2019
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Preface
21. A Street In Anglebury—A Heath Near It—Inside The ‘Red Lion’ Inn
32. Christopher’s House—Sandbourne Town—Sandbourne Moor
43. Sandbourne Moor (Continued)
54. Sandbourne Pier—Road To Wyndway—Ball-Room In Wyndway House
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65. At The Window—The Road Home
76. The Shore By Wyndway
87. The Dining-Room Of A Town House—The Butler’s Pantry
98. Christopher’s Lodgings—The Grounds About Rookington
109. A Lady’s Drawing-Rooms—Ethelberta’s Dressing-Room
1110. Lady Petherwin’s House
1211. Sandbourne And Its Neighbourhood—Some London Streets
1312. Arrowthorne Park And Lodge
1413. The Lodge (Continued)—The Copse Behind
1514. A Turnpike Road
1615. An Inner Room At The Lodge
1716. A Large Public Hall
1817. Ethelberta’s House
1918. Near Sandbourne—London Streets—Ethelberta’s
2019. Ethelberta’s Drawing-Room
2120. The Neighbourhood Of The Hall—The Road Home
2221. A Street—Neigh’s Rooms—Christopher’s Rooms
2322. Ethelberta’s House
2423. Ethelberta’s House (Continued)
2524. Ethelberta’s House (Continued)—The British Museum
2625. The Royal Academy—The Farnfield Estate
2726. Ethelberta’s Drawing-Room
2827. Mrs. Belmaine’s—Cripplegate Church
2928. Ethelberta’s—Mr. Chickerel’s Room
3029. Ethelberta’s Dressing-Room—Mr. Doncastle’s House
3130. On The Housetop
3231. Knollsea—A Lofty Down—A Ruined Castle
3332. A Room In Enckworth Court
3433. The English Channel—Normandy
3534. The Hôtel Beau Séjour And Spots Near It
3635. The Hotel (Continued), And The Quay In Front
3736. The House In Town
3837. Knollsea—An Ornamental Villa
3938. Enckworth Court
4039. Knollsea—Melchester
4140. Melchester (Continued)
4241. Workshops—An Inn—The Street
4342. The Doncastles’ Residence, And Outside The Same
4443. The Railway—The Sea—The Shore Beyond
4544. Sandbourne—A Lonely Heath—The ‘Red Lion’—The Highway
4645. Knollsea—The Road Thence—Enckworth
4746. Enckworth (Continued)—The Anglebury Highway
4847. Enckworth And Its Precincts—Melchester
49Sequel. Anglebury—Enckworth—Sandbourne
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