The Return of the Native Audiobook By Thomas Hardy cover art

The Return of the Native

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The Return of the Native

By: Thomas Hardy
Narrated by: Nicholas Rowe
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In the remote wildness of Egdon Heath, the crossed love affairs and marriages of a small group of people are played out against the background of nature’s beauty and indifference to mankind. Through a series of vivid incidents and encounters, The Return of the Native moves in a relentless drive towards tragedy, as the plans and dreams of the lovers miscarry, defeated by chance, or destiny or self-deception. In their unhappy stories, Hardy gives us a powerful dramatization of his bleak philosophy, his belief in man’s helplessness before the malevolence of the universe.

Download the accompanying reference guide.Public Domain (P)2014 Naxos AudioBooks Classics
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A true classic and work of genius with a masterfully structured plot, rich and evocative descriptions of nature, and keen insights into human psychology, all beautifully narrated. One of the best books I have ever read.

One of the most perfect books ever written

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One of his best novels very well performed being that the dialogue was in dialect and idiom of that location and time. This one of the best audible performances I have heard. It brought out the texture of the story thoroughly, and with the dialogue, the authenticity of the characters. This is a classic Hardy novel, definitely a plot of that period.

Thomas Hardy

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I could take it or leave the plot, but Hardy does write well. I think I much prefer Tess, however.

Ok story

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The narration is fine until the clumsy attempts to emulate the characters accents. Then the stream of imagery is destroyed. Then the novel's beauty is ruined. It is sad when a classic is usurped by the determination of a narration ...

Dissatisfaction with the Poorly done Narration

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