Set in Egdon Heath, a wild tract of country in the southwest of England, this is a masterpiece of dramatic tension. Clym Yeobright, a diamond merchant in Paris, returns to his home in Egdon where he falls passionately in love with the sensuous, free-spirited Eustacia Vye. She, while in a brief state of infatuation, marries him, hoping he will take her away to the more exciting life in Paris. But Eustacia's dreams of escape are not to be realized. Clym Yeobright, the returning native, cannot bring her salvation.
In The Returrn of the Native there is a strong conflict between nature or fate, represented by Egdon Heath, and human nature, represented by Hardy's true-to-life characters. This is a novel that perfectly epitomizes Thomas Hardy's unique and melancholy genius.
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was born in Higher Bockhampton, Stinsford, England. He studied under an architect engaged in church restoration, then left Dorchester for London when he was twenty-two to pursue his profession. The idyllic rural life he left behind became inspiration for poetry, which publishers rejected, so he turned to the novel and found success. Several of his novels are considered masterpieces to this day. Discouraged by critics’ rejection of his later works, he returned to writing verse.
