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  • The Hand of Ethelberta

  • By: Thomas Hardy
  • Narrated by: David Beed
  • Length: 13 hrs and 41 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (19 ratings)

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The Hand of Ethelberta  By  cover art

The Hand of Ethelberta

By: Thomas Hardy
Narrated by: David Beed
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Publisher's summary

"The Hand of Ethelberta" (1876) is a comedy novel by Thomas Hardy. Ethelberta was raised in humble circumstances but, through her work as a governess, married well at the age of eighteen. Her husband died two weeks after the wedding and, now twenty-one, Ethelberta lives with her mother-in-law, Lady Petherwin. In the three years that have elapsed since the deaths of both her husband and father-in-law, Ethelberta has been treated to foreign travel and further privilege by her benefactress, but restricted from seeing her poor family.

The story reveals Ethelberta's career as a famous poet and storyteller as she struggles to support her family and conceal her secret—that her father is a butler. Beautiful, clever, and rational, she easily attracts four very persistent suitors (Mr. Julian, Mr. Neigh, Mr. Ladywell, and Lord Mountclere), but is reluctant to give her much-coveted hand.

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Boring at first but hang in there

The story picked up around Chapter 30, so hang in there for the ending.

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