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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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About this listen

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.

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Public Domain (P)2014 Naxos AudioBooks Classics
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Where does The Return of the Native rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Not one of Hardy's most well known (or often dramatised) works, this is a bit of a slow burn but becomes fully absorbing. The star character is really the heath itself which is gradually brought to life through description and the parochial lives of its inhabitants. The plot, apparently rather simplistic at first, develops through a series of misunderstandings and misadventures to an end both tragic and stoical. Recommended.
The narration is nicely measured to the pace of the book.

Thoroughly engrossing after a slow start

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Absolutely love this book, incredible characters and wonderful language. I cried more than once! Highly recommended.

The best of Hardy - magical!

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If you can wade yourself in through the first hour or two then I guarantee you will become engaged. If you are familiar with Victorian writing you will know what you are getting into. If you are unfamiliar with Victorian writing, this story is character driven with a bit of drama, tragedy and mercy pulling the story along.

Hardy with a not-so-depressing ending

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Nicholas Rowe narrates with great professionalism. He deals well with the challenging Wessex accent. His voice is clear and pleasant, and he copes with a wide emotional range.
The book itself is a classic which occupies a high place in the Hardy canon.

Good narration for Hardy classic

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Nicholas Rowe gives a splendidly spirited and emotional reading of this marvelous novel.

The Return of the Native is one of Hardy's best novels and the very definition of "tragic". Nicholas Rowe brings out the best in it and shows how it deserves to be in Hardy's top three.

A Fabulous Reading of one of Hardy's best

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