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The Mayor of Casterbridge (version 2)

Gelesen von Bruce Pirie

(4,658 Sterne; 250 Bewertungen)

Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie) (0 hr 51 min)

Chapters

Chapter 01

30:50

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Chapter 02

10:41

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Chapter 03

11:19

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Chapter 04

17:25

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Chapter 05

14:15

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Chapter 06

10:34

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Chapter 07

16:35

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Chapter 08

16:14

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Chapter 09

18:55

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Chapter 10

9:30

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Chapter 11

12:49

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Chapter 12

12:48

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Chapter 13

11:33

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Chapter 14

21:45

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Chapter 15

15:42

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Chapter 16

15:26

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Chapter 17

16:57

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Chapter 18

11:31

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Chapter 19

19:20

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Chapter 20

23:12

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Chapter 21

17:11

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Chapter 22

24:30

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Chapter 23

18:44

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Chapter 24

20:10

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Chapter 25

12:21

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Chapter 26

24:49

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Chapter 27

20:13

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Chapter 28

10:27

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Chapter 29

19:47

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Chapter 30

11:58

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Chapter 31

11:03

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Chapter 32

18:59

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Chapter 33

18:28

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Chapter 34

19:13

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Chapter 35

11:15

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Chapter 36

22:02

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Chapter 37

16:08

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Chapter 38

16:34

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Chapter 39

16:39

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Chapter 40

14:19

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Chapter 41

24:00

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Chapter 42

18:27

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Chapter 43

22:56

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Chapter 44

25:58

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Chapter 45

17:45

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Bewertungen

Classic Hardy

(5 Sterne)

Anything that can go wrong does go wrong... but we all know what to expect from Thomas Hardy. A great book and this version is very well read.

Thomas Hardy has two hands

(3 Sterne)

Though well written, I wonder about the completion of the themes herein divulged, and the depiction of justice as is customary in other works of Hardy's. Nevertheless, it is a sobering tale, one of his most sombre. With this work, it has become clear to me that Hardy writes with two hands. When his focus is on male characters, he does strike a more heedful balance between drama and stolidness, the recklessness of the male character being burnished with more pride than it may deserve, cementing what the reader might have perceived as virtue as infallible vice. This, compared with the hysterical way he flings about his female characters when he does focus on them in other works, curiously, makes me forgive him. If ye give men their pride, then make them fall hard at vice, shall ye then be shunned for the virtue of the hysteria thine women art so wrought to evoke? I was keen to stop reading his books as I do not like women being depicted as hysterical, but after this, my goodness, how I prefer his other hand!

Incredible Characters

(5 Sterne)

Henchard's character is one of the most realistic portrayals I've ever seen of a human being in literature that I've read. His thoughts and behaviours are frequently very different from how he was just a bit ago but you will never feel like even one of his actions is unreasonable or incomprehensible given his character. His mind and character are so perfectly painted by the Author; furthermore I'd like to mentions how vibrantly Hardy paints Casterbridge itself! After reaching the end of the story, sitting and thinking about it really doesn't feel like you're trying to remember a story you just read but rather a experience you once had. Truly wonderful

Moving and Well-read

(5 Sterne)

I've been a Hardy fan for several years, and this novel is truly the bee's knees. It's a poignant tale with lively and occasionally comical intermezzos. You'd feel the tension and see the pain coming, but as the plot is so gripping, you may actually begin to enjoy the agony (disclaimer: I'm an English major with slightly masochistic tendencies). Of course, the relish is heightened by Bruce Pirie's exceptional reading, in part due to his deep, sonorous voice that hypnotised me. 11/10 would recommend this classic :) Have a beautiful day!

Well read

(4,5 Sterne)

Well read. I had watched the 2003 A&E movie version with Ciaran Hines. I wanted to know the rest of the story details that had been left out of the movie. Alas, I was much disappointed. The movie is almost word-for-word the book. This was my first Thomas Hardy. I've learned a bit about him as a writer. I've learned what he likes to leave out.... is a lot of what a woman wants to know!! ;)

(4 Sterne)

Good story, told slowly and in incredible detail. *Extremely wordy* so beware if you are not familiar with Hardy. People say that the ending is grim but it depends on how you look at the sentiment he is expressing. Quite a stoic notion-- appreciate the small things, and the people in your life.

depressing story well read

(3 Sterne)

a very long story that has moments of happiness and a few twists in story line - but overall it is a very depressing story! i even found myself frustrated at the characters behavior and line of thought. but it was an amazing reader, great job.

My first Thomas Hardy

(5 Sterne)

What a revelation, the storylines, the descriptive writing bound together by an excellent reading brings to life a novel that is hard to stop listening to. This is my first ever Hardy novel, it certainly will not be my last!