The Woodlanders

By: Thomas Hardy

Narrated by: Samuel West

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.(P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

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

an acquired taste

It took me awhile to fall into the rhythm of nineteenth century writing after reading twenty first century best sellers. Woodlanders is an intricate, unforced story written by a master, an inimitable master relative to today's standards. The voice performance was fitting and provided a clear window through which to see the story unfold..

Thomas Hardy at his best!!!

I can never decide whether this book or Jude the Obscure is my favorite...either way, this book is a must.

I love the bucolic setting which is nearly a character itself, and the details of how the woodlanders lived in nature. Also, the presentation was superb! Before looking-up the reader I was convinced that either her or the producer was a Hardy scholar. After reading-up on Mr. West, I still don't know, but it really doesn't matter. It is an amazing performance - especially Marty South and Grace Melbury!

Amazing Story!

What did you love best about The Woodlanders?

The Woodlanders is an amazing story with so many thought provoking situations and issues concerning honor, honesty and forgiveness. How love can be selfish and selfless. The narration was excellent and the story hooked me from the beginning and I did not want to leave it until it finished.

Enjoyable and interesting.

This is a interesting and entertaining sweet story of old-time folks in a small woodland town.

Amazing

Truly an amazing piece of literature. Wish I would have listened sooner. Really loved it.

Beautifully descriptive

The woodlands and it’s small community are described in such great detail that it’s easy to immerse yourself in the story.

Maybe my favorite Hardy so far

This is my 5th Hardy novel. The narrator was subtle and brought to life the vivid characters in this impeccably told tale. I won’t say that what I want to happen in the story happens. But, so beautifully told. The language is just unparalleled in its beauty. A masterpiece.

Another killer Hardy novel

If you could sum up The Woodlanders in three words, what would they be?

Sultry. Emersive. Tragic.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Marty. She's a strong character who makes her own way. She has a natural aptitude for caretaking and remains loyal and steadfast. Also, she's no one's pawn.

What does Samuel West bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

West's narration enhances the evocative, rustic setting and his languid reading increases the sense of horror as the book inexorably travels forward to it's tragic conclusion. (Like listening to a train crash in slow motion. :P)

Any additional comments?

The description of the woodlands is so detailed one can almost smell the the wood. The novel is also amazingly sexual for it's time (as it common in the latter Hardy novels). I haven't read any Hardy in a while and I pretty much inhaled this book, just couldn't put it down!

Good Story, Good Narration

I like Thomas Hardy. This one has similar themes to others I've read, but it's still unique. The Woodlanders is not as tragic as Jude or Tess. It's more along the lines of Madding Crowd in intensity. I'm not as happy with the outcome of this one as Madding Crowd, but it does represent realistic human feeling, so I can't fault it for not turning out differently. The story moves at a good pace. I never got tired of it and kept wanting to come back to it. I followed along in the written book to make sure I got it all. Hardy packs a lot into his writing. This narration is complete, with a few slight differences in word choices from the written version I have and a few times where paragraphs are omitted or modified, but nothing that constitutes abridgement. I enjoyed this reader's voice. I sampled other versions and I'm glad I chose this one. I found I much preferred having him read to me than reading myself, so never read ahead of the narration. I wasn't as impressed with his female voices though, which kind of affected my response to the female characters. Even the beautiful, sweet Grace sounded manly and harsh as a result of a male reader's interpretation. Whereas the male voices were all very natural sounding, which created a more sympathetic feeling towards them.

EXCELLENT!!

Certainly a classic. It drug at times, which many classics do but the storyline was a documentation of the human journey in those times. A woman’s tragic love story, betrayal & forgiveness so excellently written. Narrative a little slow had to speed it up at times.