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wolfsonarchitect's review
4.0
This is a book for architects like me who enjoy melodramas. There’s a lot of admiring medieval architecture and even an architectural competition. Hardy is good in writing novels about strong women and this protagonist, Paula Power is a good one. She has money which makes all the difference in these marriage novels. The book is stronger in the first half and then drags a little before getting to a satisfying ending.
fateleanor's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.75
A story of class, inheritance, love and duty. It gave a sense of England in early 20 century.
novel_nomad's review against another edition
3.0
Whilst not my favourite Hardy, I found it an interesting read with a few moments of brilliant rural writing thrown in.
bartlebybleaney's review
4.0
HIGHLY disappointed that Hardy didn’t give that trifling, troublesome, self-satisified little girl what she had coming. The ending rather spoiled what was otherwise a great novel. The only other complaint is how long and tedious and repetitive were the scenes of De Stancy’s inability to take “No” for an answer. Come to think of it, none of the principle players were altogether likeable: Paula was a coquette, De Stancy a boor, and Somerset clingy and needy. I suppose it was only Hardy’s writing that saved the thing. This is the first time I can remember any scene in Hardy’s novels taking place outside of England. I wonder if there are any other such scenes in his works?
Edit: Well, on a second reading, some four years later, I find myself having much more sympathy for Paula, bullied and bothered as she was by the various men who pursued her. I wonder if there were enough changes in the Wessex edition by Hardy from the original serialized version to change my opinion. I still couldn't enjoy the continental scenes at all; they've nothing at all to do with what Hardy is best at. This must be my least favorite of Hardy's novels, but even so it's enjoyable merely by being Hardy's writing.
Edit: Well, on a second reading, some four years later, I find myself having much more sympathy for Paula, bullied and bothered as she was by the various men who pursued her. I wonder if there were enough changes in the Wessex edition by Hardy from the original serialized version to change my opinion. I still couldn't enjoy the continental scenes at all; they've nothing at all to do with what Hardy is best at. This must be my least favorite of Hardy's novels, but even so it's enjoyable merely by being Hardy's writing.
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