The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy with guest John Bennion

Let's just start off by saying we love Thomas Hardy with an ardent fervor. The man can write landscapes that are at once transportive and captivating. Join us for this book club chat as we talk about Return of the Native with Hardy expert, and former BYU professor John Bennion. We discuss the role the landscape plays, how it can entrap the characters, or assist them, depending on how you look at it. We will talk about Hardy's tendancy to write with a fatalistic tone. We discuss the question of love, its many varieties, and whether one has choice or if one is fated. We delve into the character traits and flaws of Eustacia Vye, and discuss the ways in which Hardy breaks tradition in writing female characters that are anything but stereotypical. We are also on site in England for a blip of this podcast as we capture in real time the beauties of the british moors and tors.