"Under the Greenwood Tree; Or, The Mellstock Quire" by Thomas Hardy is a story set in the countryside, probably in the late 1800s, and follows the Mellstock Quire, a band of village musicians, as they journey from house to house performing carols over the Christmas holiday. The tale paints a picture of country living and the ties of love in a world devoted to old customs. Dick Dewy walks the snowy lane on Christmas Eve, singing. Along the way, he meets other residents. These encounters show the strong ties between the people and the traditions that define them, notably "going the rounds" during Christmastime. The book shows the beauty of nature and the group's musical customs. The choir's visits to different homes demonstrate their love of music and the happiness of Christmas. The story prepares for a study of how the characters interact, showing their lives set against the English countryside
Under the Greenwood Tree; Or, The Mellstock Quire A Rural Painting of the Dutch School
By Thomas Hardy
In a time when the Christmas spirit filled hearts and music echoed through the countryside, a group of villagers find that love, tradition, and song intertwine, forever changing their small world.
Summary
About the AuthorThomas Hardy was an English novelist and poet. A Victorian realist in the tradition of George Eliot, he was influenced both in his novels and in his poetry by Romanticism, including the poetry of William Wordsworth. He was highly critical of much in Victorian society, especially on the declining status of rural people in Britain such as those from his native South West England.
Thomas Hardy was an English novelist and poet. A Victorian realist in the tradition of George Eliot, he was influenced both in his novels and in his poetry by Romanticism, including the poetry of William Wordsworth. He was highly critical of much in Victorian society, especially on the declining status of rural people in Britain such as those from his native South West England.
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