The Return of the Native

"The Return of the Native" by Thomas Hardy is a novel set in the Victorian era, amidst the dark and enigmatic Egdon Heath, telling a tale of love, hopelessness, and bonds among people in a very rural and thoughtful place. At first, we meet an old man walking the heath and a reddleman, who is a strange character because of his job and mysterious travels, pointing to a link with a woman named Thomasin's fate. The book opens with a clear image of Egdon Heath at dusk, mirroring the deep feelings that will be looked at throughout the story. The old man, seen crossing the lonely heath, meets the reddleman, who is hiding a secret about a young woman in his van, and through their chat, we find out she’s running from a difficult situation, hinting at the hard relationships involved. As the heath stirs with Bonfire Night preparations, talks give bits of information about love, marriage, and the people of the community, setting the stage for the stresses and dramas that will happen in this interesting story.