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The Trumpet-Major

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The Trumpet-Major

By: Thomas Hardy
Narrated by: Nicholas Rowe
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War threatens the rich, green fields of Wessex in Hardy's historical novel The Trumpet-Major.

The Napoleonic Wars are at their height, and upheaval and uncertainty plague British soil. In the midst of it all, the impoverished beauty Anne Garland finds herself at the center of a love quadrangle. She is torn between the persistent and annoying Festus Derryman, her womanizing childhood sweetheart Bob Loveday, and the reliable and thoughtful John Loveday, the eponymous Trumpet-Major. Who will she choose?

Hardy's eighth published novel is a gentle and humorous tale about the confusion and conflict of life.

Public Domain (P)2016 Naxos AudioBooks Ancient, Classical & Medieval Literature Classics Collections European Linguistics Literary History & Criticism Social Sciences World Literature
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very well read. story twists and turns and turns again.. very typical of Hardy. Well drawn characters.

Good narrator

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What you expect from Thomas Hardy, Enjoyable listen, v well read. The woman Anne I found annoying.

A good tale of romance

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A book with a fascinating range of characters good and bad whose lives intertwine as history happens around them

A Superb story, twisting and turning throughout

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Thomas Hardy is mainly remembered for his dramatic tragedies, but he had a humorous side too, and The Trumpet Major is one of his novels that reflects his playfulness.

In Festus Derriman, Hardy creates a wonderful pantomime villain, who is the source of much of the fun in the novel. Festus’ uncle also provides plenty of laughs and the novel is full of unlikely coincidences and humorous events.

The novel is set against the backdrop of Southern England at risk of imminent invasion from Napoleon’s army. Thomas Hardy likely spoke to people who lived through that time and the novel provides fascinating detail. The funniest part of the whole novel is when Festus thinks he will have to face the French army landed on a nearby beach.

The main subject of the novel is Anne Garland and the men who court her. Anne's fickle and oft changing affections power the story. It is not the greatest story Hardy ever told but the atmosphere of England at risk of invasion is enthralling and there is plenty of fun to be had with Festus, his uncle and other characters. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and Nicholas Rowe's reading is excellent.

If you are interested in Thomas Hardy’s playful side then I can also recommend “Under the Greenwood Tree” and “Two on a Tower”. I believe The Hand of Ethelberta also falls into this category but I haven’t read that one yet. The Trumpet Major is to be enjoyed for his historical detail, the characters it presents, and the fun to be had

Humorous and Historical Hardy

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Excellent Read good story and that is all I have to say Is that enough now

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