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  • The Woodlanders

  • By: Thomas Hardy
  • Narrated by: Samuel West
  • Length: 14 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (36 ratings)

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The Woodlanders

By: Thomas Hardy
Narrated by: Samuel West
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Publisher's Summary

Set in the Dorset landscape familiar to Hardy novels, The Woodlanders concerns the fortunes of Giles Winterborne, whose love for the well-do-do Grace Melbury is challenged by the arrival of a dashing and dissolute doctor, Edred Fitzpiers. When the mysterious Mrs Charmond further complicates the romantic entanglements, marital choice and class mobility become inextricably linked.
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Critic Reviews

"The foremost novelist of his time." (Geoffrey Harvey, The Complete Critical Guide to Thomas Hardy)

What listeners say about The Woodlanders

Average Customer Ratings
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Great story

Woodlanders definitely deserves its classics status. A beautifully poignant story and Samuel West is a talented narrator.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Am I Missing the Last Chapter ?

Having recently laboured through modern writing with its overuse of words and descriptors , I was nice to get back to simple and concise writing. Also well complimented by good narration.

I was enjoying my 10 hours listening and pondered how the story would end. I was also engrossed in Grace’s life. Pondered also why this book did not get the accolades of Hardy’s other books.

The story ends abruptly and I thought I had advanced the books end by mistake. But alas - no.
It ends with much wondering when the story was going to take me. Was it up to me to fill the gaps?

Disappointed but not sorry. I listen with absolute wonderment as to how life was back then. How simple but not with the social classes and polite behaviours. Would love to spend a day in their shoes.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Took a while to get into.

I nearly quit this book a couple of hours in. This was a free book which I appreciate. The story took a while to gain traction, and it is paired with a slow and ponderous narrator. I think I’m glad that I persevered, although it was not a groundbreaking story, just a nice one. No suspense or twists to speak of, but I don’t think that’s what the author was going for. It did leave a nice but melancholy impression and wrapped up well.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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The narrator

Samuel West has the perfect voice for Hardy. A pleasure to “ reread” a favourite book. Looking forward to more Hardy on audible

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