Under the Greenwood Tree cover art

Under the Greenwood Tree

 Preview

Under the Greenwood Tree

By: Thomas Hardy
Narrated by: Robert Hardy
Listen for free

Season's Savings | £0.99/mo for 3 months

£5.99/mo after 3 months - terms apply. Cancel monthly
The four seasons of the Wessex year form the backdrop for the delightful romance of Dick Dewy and Fancy Day. The ups and downs of their courtship are set alongside the story of the rustics who form the church choir.Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Classics Genre Fiction Literary Fiction
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
All stars
Most relevant
I studied this book for English O Level way back in the 1960s. At the time I thought it was the best book I'd ever read! I love the dialogue between members of the "quire" but this was one of Hardy's earlier works and he improved immensely and when he got to "Far From The Madding Crowd" I find the two stories very similar, but the latter work being better. However, Hardy has a superb way of commenting upon nature and people's mood and that is superb. Surprisingly I found Robert Hardy's narration disappointing - I've no idea what accent the inhabitants of this Dorset village might have used, but surely not the one used by Robert Hardy. Having said all of that I enjoyed it, but it is no longer the best book I've ever read.

Memories from youth have rude awaking

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I see the reviews are divided about both the story and the performance so a listener needs to bear in mind that this very much personal preference. For me Robert Hardy gives a wonderful engaging narration. And he gives his all tor not and any a story that certainly gives insight into people's lives but is lacking a depth that brings a reader personal connection. I was indifferent whether people lived or died, got married or not and any outcome I was not engaged. It was Robert Hardy's performance that carried me over the finish line.

Excellent Narration!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is not usually my favourite Hardy and it is ages since I read it but hearing Robert Hardy read not only ‘woke up’ the whole book to me but reminded me how funny it was. I shall remember Fancy being likened to a flower amongst the vegetables of the other young girls and am in pursuit of my copy of the story to see if I heard correctly and Hardy really used wombling as a verb, all those years ago…..

Perfect!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I was surprised to see so many of these reviews didn’t like the narration, I absolutely loved it! Robert Hardy did such a good job of bringing out the humour of the story, it had a great pace and I thought he couldn’t have done it better, I really enjoyed it. The story itself is very simple and gentle, I really enjoyed it.

Lovely story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Robert Hardy does a fantastic job with Thomas Hardy's jolly novel. Great characterisation and local accents. Could listen to the whole thing again straight away.

Wonderful storytelling

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews