The Mayor of Casterbridge

Probably Hardy's greatest work, The Mayor of Casterbridge is the tragic story of Michael Henchard, a man who rises to civic prominence but is haunted by his past. The first chapter features one of the most shocking events of Victorian literature, while the psychological mind games and dramatic plot twists in this story about the protagonist's rise and fall will grip readers, leaving them dazed by the final page. Not an uplifting story by any means, The Mayor of Casterbridge is nevertheless an excellent example of Hardy's oeuvre, and is a perfect read curled up on your sofa with a cup of hot cocoa on a cold winter's day.

-Culture Trip