The Trumpet-Major (Wordsworth Classics)

by Dr Keith Carabine (Series Editor), Thomas Hardy (Author), Charles P.C. Pettit (Introduction)

• New

  Paperback
  1995

  $6.74

  With an Introduction and Notes by Charles P.C. Pettit. Thomas Hardy's only historical novel, The Trumpet Major is set in Wessex during the Napoleonic Wars. Hardy skilfully immerses us in the life of the day, making us feel the impact of historical events on the immemorial local way of life - the glamour of the coming of George III and his soldiery, fears of the press-gang and invasion, and the effect of distant but momentous events like the Battle of Trafalgar. He interweaves a compelling, bitter-sweet romantic love story of the rivalry of two brothers for the hand of the heroine Anne Garland, played out against the loves of a lively gallery of other characters. While there are elements of sadness and even tragedy, The Trumpet-Major shows Hardy's skills of story-telling, characterisation and description in a novel of vitality, comedy and warmth.

• Used

  Paperback
  1978

  $3.25

• Used

  Hardcover
  1997

  $3.25

  Anne Garland lives with her widowed mother in a mill, owned by Miller Loveday. She is wooed by three men: the stupid, coarse Festus Derriman; John Loveday, the quiet, thoughtful trumpet-major; and Bob, John's brother. Anne has to overcome many obstacles before she marries the man of her choice.

• New

  Paperback
  1998

  $13.97

  Anne Garland, who lives with her widowed mother in a mill owned by Miller Loveday, has three suitors: the local squire's nephew Festus and the miller's two sons, Robert and John. While Festus' aggressive pursuit deters the young woman from considering him as a husband, the indecisive Anne wavers between light-hearted Bob and gentle, steadfast John. But as their Wessex village prepares for possible invasion by Napoleon's fleet, all find their destinies increasingly tangled with the events of history. The Loveday brothers, one a sailor and one a soldier, must wrestle with their commitments to their country and their feelings for Anne. Lyrical and light-hearted, yet shot through with irony, The Trumpet-Major (1880) is one of Hardy's most unusual novels and a fascinating tale of love and desire.