The Return of the Native
The Return of the Native, published in 1878, is set on Egdon Heath, the wild tract of furze and heather that Thomas Hardy made the brooding presence of the novel. Clym Yeobright, who has given up a career in the Paris diamond trade to come home and teach, marries Eustacia Vye, a beautiful and discontented young woman who longs for exactly the world he has left. His cousin Thomasin marries the innkeeper Damon Wildeve, who has been Eustacia's lover and remains so in his heart. A misunderstanding between Clym and his mother and a night of storm bring the story to catastrophe. The reddleman Diggory Venn watches over it all. It is the darkest of Hardy's early novels. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Return of the Native
The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Return of the Native online?
Yes. The Return of the Native opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Return of the Native free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Return of the Native is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Return of the Native in the public domain?
Yes. The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Return of the Native?
About 9 h 27 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Return of the Native?
The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
