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A pair of blue eyes

Thomas Hardy

A pair of blue eyes

Thomas Hardy

42 chapters · ~130,202 words · Challenging · Downloaded 62,448 times on Gutenberg in the last 30 days · Source

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"A Pair of Blue Eyes" by Thomas Hardy is a novel written during the late 19th century. This work explores themes of love and social class through the experiences of Elfride Swancourt, a young woman navigating her emotions and relationships in a rural English setting. The story is set against the backdrop of church restoration and the wild landscapes of Wessex, interweaving the intricacies of love and societal expectations. At the start of the narrative, we are introduced to Elfride, a twenty-year-old girl, who possesses a depth of emotion but lacks social sophistication. As her father, the parish vicar, is laid up with illness, Elfride prepares to host Stephen Smith, a young architect sent to oversee the restoration of a local church. The beginning paints a picture of Elfride's character—innocent, curious, and somewhat naive—as she contemplates the arrival of Stephen with both excitement and trepidation. Their first meeting hints at a brewing tension, setting the stage for the developing romantic intrigue amidst the constraints of their social surroundings.

Summary from Project Gutenberg's catalogue data.

  1. 1CONTENTS737 chars
  2. 2PREFACE2,601 chars
  3. 3Chapter I5,934 chars
  4. 4Chapter II13,713 chars
  5. 5Chapter III13,673 chars
  6. 6Chapter IV20,179 chars
  7. 7Chapter V18,483 chars
  8. 8Chapter VI11,834 chars
  9. 9Chapter VII35,090 chars
  10. 10Chapter VIII19,832 chars
  11. 11Chapter IX18,188 chars
  12. 12Chapter X24,764 chars
  13. 13Chapter XI26,451 chars
  14. 14Chapter XII28,459 chars
  15. 15Chapter XIII16,087 chars
  16. 16Chapter XIV18,949 chars
  17. 17Chapter XV6,625 chars
  18. 18Chapter XVI10,071 chars
  19. 19Chapter XVII14,675 chars
  20. 20Chapter XVIII31,650 chars
  21. 21Chapter XIX18,427 chars
  22. 22Chapter XX31,357 chars
  23. 23Chapter XXI17,041 chars
  24. 24Chapter XXII20,621 chars
  25. 25Chapter XXIII24,565 chars
  26. 26Chapter XXIV6,817 chars
  27. 27Chapter XXV17,551 chars
  28. 28Chapter XXVI12,493 chars
  29. 29Chapter XXVII30,308 chars
  30. 30Chapter XXVIII20,484 chars
  31. 31Chapter XXIX34,185 chars
  32. 32Chapter XXX20,193 chars
  33. 33Chapter XXXI14,481 chars
  34. 34Chapter XXXII13,863 chars
  35. 35Chapter XXXIII14,167 chars
  36. 36Chapter XXXIV15,130 chars
  37. 37Chapter XXXV11,352 chars
  38. 38Chapter XXXVI8,939 chars
  39. 39Chapter XXXVII9,257 chars
  40. 40Chapter XXXVIII20,937 chars
  41. 41Chapter XXXIX16,833 chars
  42. 42Chapter XL15,642 chars