Return of the Native

arts, books, fiction, drama · EN

In Return of the Native, Clym Yeobright makes a poignant return to Egdon Heath, a remote collection of homes nestled in the haunting beauty of the Wessex moors. Here, he becomes entangled in a complex web of love that includes his cousin, Thomasin Yeobright; the enigmatic innkeeper, Damon Wildeve; the passionate and controversial Eustacia Vye; and the mysterious reddleman, Diggory Venn, whose skin bears the marks of his trade. This novel is quintessential Thomas Hardy, featuring his signature elements the rugged Wessex landscape, a tangle of romantic interests, a fateful wedding, and a reserved thirty-something man paired with a fiercely independent woman. However, what sets Return of the Native apart is its rich tapestry of pagan themes, unfolding over a year and a day, starting on All Hallows Eve, with hints of magic and witchcraft woven throughout. (Summary by Libby Gohn)