Few novels have caused more controversy than Hardy's tragic tale of a fallen woman. This incisive study draws on the best of the novel's critics to show why Hardy's story has such power, and to explain the angry and uncompromising vision contained within its pages. This short guide is essential for ...

Few novels have caused more controversy than Hardy's tragic tale of a fallen woman. This incisive study draws on the best of the novel's critics to show why Hardy's story has such power, and to explain the angry and uncompromising vision contained within its pages. This short guide is essential for anyone who wishes to understand Hardy's fiction.