This Combo Collection (Set of 3 Books) includes All-time Bestseller Books. This anthology contains: The Hand of Ethelberta: A Comedy in Chapters A Pair of Blue Eyes Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman

Adventuress and opportunist, Ethelberta reinvents herself to disguise her humble origins, launching a brilliant career as a society poet in London with her family acting incognito as her servants. Turning the male-dominated literary world to her advantage, she happily exploits the attentions of four very different suitors. Will she bestow her hand upon the richest of them, or on the man she loves? Ethelberta Petherwin, alias Berta Chickerel, moves with easy grace between her multiple identities, cleverly managing a tissue of lies to aid her meteoric rise. In The Hand of Ethelberta (1876), Hardy drew on conventions of popular romances, illustrated weeklies, plays, fashion plates and even his wife's diary in this comic story of a woman in control of her destiny.

Bringing together eminent Hardy scholars, The Ashgate Research Companion to Thomas Hardy offers an overview of Hardy scholarship and suggests new directions in Hardy studies. While several collections have surveyed the Hardy landscape, no previous volume has been composed specifically for scholars and advanced graduate students. This companion is specially designed to aid original research on Hardy and serve as the critical basis for Hardy studies in the new millennium.

The author, a leading and influential critic of Thomas Hardy, brings together for the first time essays representing both his major critical work over the last fifteen years and three entirely new pieces. This volume allows readers to test the force of Widdowson's critical polemic in undispersed form. Readable, engaged and, no doubt, often infuriating, this is a book for all those who still regard Hardy as 'our contemporary'.

The Hand of Ethelberta: A Comedy in Chapters by Thomas Hardy: The Hand of Ethelberta is a novel by Thomas Hardy that tells the story of Ethelberta, a young woman who uses her wit, charm, and intelligence to rise above her humble origins and navigate the complexities of Victorian society. With its blend of humor, social commentary, and Hardy's signature prose, the novel offers a compelling exploration of love, ambition, and the challenges faced by women in a rigidly stratified society. Key Aspects of the Book "The Hand of Ethelberta: A Comedy in Chapters": Social Commentary: The novel provides insights into the social hierarchies and gender expectations of Victorian society, exposing the limitations faced by women and the constraints of class. Character Study: Hardy's portrayal of Ethelberta and other characters offers a deep exploration of their motivations, aspirations, and the complexities of human relationships. Humor and Wit: The Hand of Ethelberta incorporates humor and wit, adding an entertaining and lighthearted touch to the narrative. Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was an English novelist and poet, known for his depictions of rural life, deep psychological insights, and themes of fate and determinism. Hardy's novels, including The Hand of Ethelberta, often examine social issues and challenge the societal norms of his time. His works continue to be celebrated for their vivid characters, evocative settings, and profound exploration of the human condition.

This meticulously edited collection has been designed and formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. "Desperate Remedies" – A young woman, Cytherea Graye, is forced by poverty to accept a post as lady's maid to the eccentric Miss Aldclyffe. Cytherea loves Edward Springrove, but Miss Adclyffe's machinations, the discovery that Edward is already engaged to a woman whom he does not love, and the urgent need to support a sick brother drive Cytherea to accept the hand of Aeneas Manston, Miss Adclyffe's illegitimate son, whose first wife is believed to have perished in a fire. "The Hand of Ethelberta" – Ethelberta was raised in humble circumstances but, through her work as a governess, married well at the age of eighteen. Her husband died soon after the wedding and, now Ethelberta lives with her mother-in-law. In the three years that have elapsed since the death of her husband, Ethelberta has been treated to foreign travel and further privilege, making a career as a famous poet and storyteller. Beautiful, clever, and rational, she easily attracts four very persistent suitors, but is reluctant to give her much-coveted hand. "A Laodicean" – Paula Power inherits a medieval castle from her industrialist father who has purchased it from the aristocratic De Stancy family. She employs George Somerset, a newly qualified architect from London. He shows an interest in Paula, as well as Captain De Stancy. Paula is attracted to both of them but William Dare, an illegitimate son of Captain De Stancy and an amateur photographer, helps his father by counterfeiting a telegram and a photograph to make Somerset look bad. Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was an English novelist and poet. A Victorian realist in the tradition of George Eliot, he was influenced both in his novels and in his poetry by Romanticism, especially William Wordsworth.