Hey Blog! This week is a book review, and it is by a classic author I’ve never read before but really like!
Thomas Hardy, novelist, was a 19th century author and poet, famous for romantic novels, stunning word-created imagery, and in-depth characters depicting the contrast between rural life and wealthy life. He is very much a writer of his time, yet speaks across time and can be understood today and beyond. The book I am reviewing is called Under the Greenwood Tree, an early work of his, exploring first time love, among other things, and much influenced by Shakespeare, even in the title – ‘Under the Greenwood Tree’ is a song sung by the forest court of the deposed Duke Senior in As You Like It, which I studied recently. But enough of Shakespeare, more of Hardy!
The story takes place in a Wessex village, and is introduced by the arrival of the quire, or choir; the village and church band. One member is the protagonist, Dick Dewy, the son of the local tranter, or general carter. If you are daunted by the unusual and forgotten words, don’t stop here but continue on as they will get easier to understand. There is a party thrown, and during the course of the evening Dick becomes enamoured with the village schoolmistress, the beautiful and highly sought after Fancy Day. Seemingly either ignorant of or unconcerned by the sudden adoration from Dick, Fancy continues with life, but Dick tries several long-winded and complicated ways to woo her, culminating in a direct conversation during a drive in a cart. However, what the outcome of this conversation is I will leave you to find out, as it would be no use me telling you the full story!
It is unlike almost anything I have ready before. It is a romance novel, and while some books I have read have touched on this, it has never been the full focus, only a side quest for the main character or someone else’s obsession. It is set in an area I have not read anything else set in – indeed, it is set in Hardy’s own birthplace under the different name of Mellstock rather than Stinsford. The language is very unusual for modern times – Hardy “deplored the dying of old dialects” according to my copy. Finally, Hardy is a classic author who I’ve never read, which is exceedingly unusual, and therefore the nuances of language particular to Hardy are unknown to me. However, I like it! It is a fun and friendly book, serious and comedic, and I’m eager to read more from Hardy.