The Mayor of Casterbridge

The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy is a tragic novel about guilt, fate, ambition, and the lasting consequences of past actions. The story follows Michael Henchard, a strong-willed man who, in a moment of drunken despair, sells his wife and daughter to a stranger. Years later, having risen to become a respected mayor and successful businessman, Henchard is forced to confront the return of his past. Set in the fictional town of Casterbridge, the novel explores pride, jealousy, love, social ambition, and the difficulty of escaping the consequences of one’s own choices.