The Mayor of Casterbridge

Michael Henchard rises from poverty to become the powerful Mayor of Casterbridge, but a reckless act from his past threatens to destroy everything he has built. In this unforgettable classic by Thomas Hardy, ambition, guilt, rivalry, and fate collide in a deeply emotional story set in the heart of rural England. Rich with dramatic twists, memorable characters, and Hardy’s masterful portrayal of human weakness and redemption, The Mayor of Casterbridge: The Life and Death of a Man of Character remains one of the greatest tragedies in English literature.