The Mayor of Casterbridge

The Mayor of Casterbridge is a novel by Thomas Hardy, first published in 1886. The story follows Michael Henchard, a working-class man who becomes the mayor of the fictional town of Casterbridge. After a series of personal and professional misjudgments, including the sale of his wife and child in his youth, Henchard's life unravels. The novel explores themes of fate, redemption, and the consequences of one's actions, reflecting Hardy's interest in the psychological and social aspects of human behavior. It is considered one of Hardy's greatest works, renowned for its complex characters and intricate plot.