The Mayor of Casterbridge (novel)

*The Mayor of Casterbridge* by Thomas Hardy is a novel about Michael Henchard, a man who impulsively sells his wife and daughter during a moment of drunkenness. He later becomes a respected mayor of the town, but his personal flaws and past mistakes haunt him, leading to tragedy. The story explores themes of guilt, fate, and the ripple effects of actions, illustrating how characters' decisions shape their lives and those around them. Hardy examines the complexity of human nature and the harsh realities of rural Victorian society through Henchard's conflicted journey.