The+Mayor+of+Casterbridge

The last book I read was “The Mayor of Casterbridge”. This novel was written by Thomas Hardy, an English novelist and poet, who was born in 1840. The author describes the events in the fictional town of Casterbridge, in the early part of the nineteenth century. The main characters in the story are MICHAEL HENCHARD, his wife SUSAN HENCHARD, his daughter ELIZABETH-JANE, D. FARFRAE, a scout and LUCETTA T. a woman who knows Michael Henchard from the past. Another character is NEWSON, a sailor who appears at the beginning and at the end of the story. The story is about the complicated and unusual lives of the characters. One of the strongest things about the book is the plot, which is exciting and extremely gripping. One of the other strengths is the description of the main character, Henchard. He is a complex character because although he is a successful and respected man in the town, he has an awful secret from his past that causes him horrible problems. My favourite character is Elizabeth-Jane, a young woman, very clever and interesting, who plays an important role. The twenty chapters of the story are expertly put together to catch the reader´s attention, all the time. I would definitely recommend reading it. It is a bit difficult to read for me, but it´s worth it, so I would say it´s perfect for taking on holidays.

C. del Nogal