Download The Hand of Ethelberta by Thomas Hardy. Available in PDF, EPUB, and MOBI formats. Enjoy a summary, excerpt, and related recommendations.
The Hand of Ethelberta Summary
The Hand of Ethelberta by Thomas Hardy is a novel that explores themes of social mobility, class distinctions, and the role of women in Victorian society. It follows Ethelberta, a young widow who rises from humble beginnings to become a successful poet and storyteller, all while concealing her true family background.
The Hand of Ethelberta Excerpt
Short Summary: Ethelberta, a young widow of humble origins, ascends the social ladder as a poet and storyteller while concealing her family's working-class background. The novel delves into her navigation of societal expectations, romantic pursuits, and the complexities of identity in Victorian England.
"Ethelberta stood poised before her audience, the flickering gaslights casting a warm glow upon her composed features. Her voice, steady and mellifluous, wove tales that captivated the assembly, each word meticulously chosen to enchant and engage. Yet, beneath the veneer of confidence, a tempest of apprehension swirled within her. The opulent surroundings of the salon, with its gilded mirrors and velvet draperies, were a far cry from her modest beginnings. She had traversed a chasm of class, crafting a new identity that masked the truths of her lineage. As the evening progressed, suitors of varying stature vied for her attention. Mr. Neigh, with his aloof demeanor, observed her with a calculating gaze, while the youthful Mr. Ladywell's admiration bordered on the fervent. Amidst them, Lord Mountclere's seasoned eyes gleamed with a curiosity that unsettled her. Each man's pursuit was a reminder of the precarious balance she maintained between her public persona and private reality. In the quietude of her chambers, Ethelberta's thoughts often wandered to her family, whose laborious lives contrasted starkly with her own. The weight of her deception pressed heavily upon her conscience. She yearned for authenticity, yet feared the repercussions of unveiling her true self to a society unprepared for such revelations. Hardy's narrative intricately examines the societal constructs of the era, illuminating the sacrifices and subterfuges necessitated by ambition. Ethelberta's journey is emblematic of the eternal struggle between self-fulfillment and societal acceptance, a dance of duplicity performed upon the tightrope of class distinctions."
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