The Mayor Of Casterbridge
The mayor walked up and down the vestibule of the hotel with his hands underhis coat tails, as if he were merely seeking a cooler atmosphere than that ofthe room he had quitted. But there could be no doubt that he was in realitystill possessed to the full by the new idea, whatever that might be. At lengthhe went back to the door of the dining-room, paused, and found that the songs,toasts, and conversation were proceeding quite satisfactorily without hispresence. The Corporation, private residents, and major and minor tradesmenhad, in fact, gone in for comforting beverages to such an extent that they hadquite forgotten, not only the Mayor, but all those vast, political, religious,and social differences which they felt necessary to maintain in the daytime,and which separated them like iron grills. Seeing this the Mayor took his hat,and when the waiter had helped him on with a thin holland overcoat, went outand stood under the portico.
The Mayor of Casterbridge
Many years later his wife seeks him out in Casterbridge, where he has gained both wealth and the well-respected position of mayor. His family restored to him, Henchard's happiness should be complete. But beneath the surface still smoulders the same impetuousness and temper that, combined with fate, bring about his degradation and ruin.
They arrive at Casterbridge and learn that Henchard has now become the mayor and is one of the wealthiest men in Casterbridge. Out of a sense of guilt and obligation, Henchard courts Susan and remarries her hoping he will be able to recognize Elizabeth-Jane as his legitimate daughter. Elizabeth-Jane is under the impression that her father is Newson. Henchard also hires a man named Donald Farfrae as his business manager.
It starts when the country labourer Michael Henchard gets drunk and sells his wife and young daughter to a sailor at a village fair for five guineas. When he sobers up and realizes what a horrendous thing he's done, he goes looking for them, but he learns the wife, daughter and sailor have left the country. Repentant, he swears off alcohol. Over the years he works hard, becomes rich and eventually is elected the mayor of Casterbridge. But then his wife and her grown-up daughter show up, his reputation is threatened and.... 041b061a72