The Woodlanders (version 2)

Classic Hardy beautifully read

(5 stars)

VRRCR

There is a Thomas Hardy poem that says 'Well, world, you have kept faith with me, kept faith with me; upon the whole you have proved to be much as you said you were.' The Woodlanders keeps faith with Hardy and is all you might expect from a Hardy novel: evocative, sad, the characters driven by forces they don't seem to understand or be able to resist and all of it rooted in the natural world of Hardy's Wessex. It deals with the suffocation of social expectation and, like so many of Hardy's novels, addresses some of the injustices facing women at the time. Although not so tragic as Tess or Jude it presents no neat ending - Hardy does not deal in happily ever afters very often! the reader is excellent. He is Irish (from Dublin I believe?) and although he does not have the accent of Hardy's Wessex (West country English) his voice, as always, is beautiful, his reading flowing and his skill consummate! thank you!

Tadhg Fan

(5 stars)

Moonpie1

Tadhg has recorded several Hardy novels and has done a fantastic job on all of them. He's not British? I'm no expert on British accents, but I could have sworn he was.

Very enjoyable

(5 stars)

Randall Curb

I am a great admirer of Thomas Hardy's novels, but I had never gotten around to reading this one, which was his personal favorite. This recording, by Tadgh Hynes, is the better of the two offered by Librivox. Hynes is the reader throughout, and I prefer having a single reader for a novel that is about time, place, and atmosphere as well as character and plot. He is not British, but his voice is very congenial to the narrative, and I found the entire reading to be compelling and satisfying. Highly recommended.

(5 stars)

Alan offer

Thank you for this narrator , I tried listening to another hardy tale with a different reader and after one paragraph I gave up . Mr Hines brings the prose to life , And what a great storyteller mr hardy is right until the last sentence spellbound

moving story of unrequited love

(5 stars)

hugh farleigh

as always Hardy describes the English countryside with great detail and also explores relationships in his usual perceptive way. unlike many modern novels he does not end his stories with the happy ever after but is much more realistic

(5 stars)

A LibriVox Listener

wonderfully read with a beautiful Dublin accent. The reader makes the novel come alive and keeps ones attention throughout the story. Most relaxing and enjoyable to listen to. I shall see if I can find another novel to listen to with this reader. Jackie

good story, great reading

(4.5 stars)

A LibriVox Listener

definitely held my interest, but if you're looking for a classic happy ending don't look here! Hardy is a great writer but he's all about the bittersweet and melancholy. Tadhg is an excellent reader!

loved it

(5 stars)

ameyer99

love Thomas Hardy although at times his stories are desperately sad. And you cannot beat this reader he is well I won't say is my absolute favorite I have about 3 but he's right up there!