The proverbial phrase 'life's little ironies' was coined by Hardy for his third volume of short stories. These tales and sketches possess all the power of his novels: the wealth of description, the realistic portrayal of the quaint lore of Wessex, the 'Chaucerian' humour and characterisation, the shrewd and critical psychology, the poignant estimate of human nature and the brooding sense of wonder at the essential mystery of life. The tales which make up Life's Little Ironies tenderly re-create a rapidly vanishing rural world and scrutinise the repressions of fin-de-siecle bourgeois life. They share the many concerns of Hardy's last great novels, such as the failure of modern marriage and the insidious effects of social ambition on the family and community life. Ranging widely in length and complexity, they are unified by Hardy's quintessential irony, which embraces both the farcical and the tragic aspects of human existence. Introduction and Notes by Dr Claire Seymour, University of Kent at Canterbury.

Thomas Hardy (1840—1928) was an English novelist and poet. The phrase life's little ironies' is now proverbial, was coined by Hardy as the title for his third volume of short stories. The tales and sketches reflect many of the strengths and themes of the great novels of Hardy. The collection displays the whole range of Hardy's art as a writer of fiction, from fantasy to uncompromising realism, and from the loving re-creation of a vanished rural world to the repressions of fin de siecle bourgeois life.

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was an English novelist and poet. The phrase life's little ironies' is now proverbial, was coined by Hardy as the title for his third volume of short stories. The tales and sketches reflect many of the strengths and themes of the great novels of Hardy. The collection displays the whole range of Hardy's art as a writer of fiction, from fantasy to uncompromising realism, and from the loving re-creation of a vanished rural world to the repressions of fin de siecle bourgeois life.

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was an English novelist and poet. The phrase life's little ironies' is now proverbial, was coined by Hardy as the title for his third volume of short stories. The tales and sketches reflect many of the strengths and themes of the great novels of Hardy. The collection displays the whole range of Hardy's art as a writer of fiction, from fantasy to uncompromising realism, and from the loving re-creation of a vanished rural world to the repressions of fin de siecle bourgeois life.

Thomas Hardy (1840—1928) was an English novelist and poet. The phrase life's little ironies' is now proverbial, was coined by Hardy as the title for his third volume of short stories. The tales and sketches reflect many of the strengths and themes of the great novels of Hardy. The collection displays the whole range of Hardy's art as a writer of fiction, from fantasy to uncompromising realism, and from the loving re-creation of a vanished rural world to the repressions of fin de siecle bourgeois life.

With a new Introduction by Cedric Watts, Research Professor of English, University of Sussex. A Pair of Blue Eyes, though early in the sequence of Hardy s novels, is lively and gripping. Its dramatic cliff-hanging episode, for example, is at once tense, ironic, feministic and erotic. With settings in Wessex and London, the novel also has some strongly autobiographical features, as the blue-eyed heroine, Elfride Swancourt, is based largely on Emma Gifford, who became Thomas Hardy s first wife. Elfride s vivacious nature attracts several lovers, but she is beset by sexual prejudice, and the ensuing ironies reveal the constraints of her times. A Pair of Blue Eyes provides an engaging and moving experience for today s readers.

For D. H. Lawrence the novel was the pinnacle, 'the one bright book of life', yet his non-fiction shows him at his most freewheeling and playful. This is a selection of his essays, on subjects including art, morality, obscenity, songbirds, Italy, Thomas Hardy, the death of a porcupine in the Rocky Mountains and the narcissism of photographing ourselves. Arranged chronologically to illuminate the patterns of Lawrence's thought over time, and including many little-known pieces, they reveal a writer of enduring freshness and force.

For D. H. Lawrence the novel was the pinnacle, 'the one bright book of life', yet his non-fiction shows him at his most freewheeling and playful. This is a selection of his essays, on subjects including art, morality, obscenity, songbirds, Italy, Thomas Hardy, the death of a porcupine in the Rocky Mountains and the narcissism of photographing ourselves. Arranged chronologically to illuminate the patterns of Lawrence's thought over time, and including many little-known pieces, they reveal a writer of enduring freshness and force.

This favourite Thomas story is now available in board for the youngest Thomas fans to enjoy. When Bertie won't race with Thomas and The Fat Controller sends him to the Steamworks, Thomas thinks he's not a Really Useful Engine anymore. But little does he know that The Fat Controller and the rest of Thomas' friends are planning a party to celebrate his birthday! Happy Birthday Thomas! Thomas has been teaching children lessons about life and friendship for 75 years. He ranks alongside other beloved characters such as Paddington Bear, Winnie-the-Pooh and Peter Rabbit as an essential part of our literary heritage.

A birthday themed story, based on Three Cheers for Thomas! When Bertie won't race with him and the Fat Controller sends him to the Steamworks, Thomas thinks he's not a Really Useful Engine anymore. But little does he know that the Fat Controller and the rest of Thomas' friends are planning a party to celebrate his birthday! Thomas has been teaching children lessons about life and friendship for over 70 years. He ranks alongside other beloved character such as Paddington Bear, Winnie-the-Pooh and Peter Rabbit as an essential part of our literary heritage.

In these elegant, unsparing and intimate stories, the Folio Prize-winning author, Akhil Sharma, exposes the paradoxes, ironies and harmonies that characterise modern life. Marrying the minimalism of Chekhov and Carver with a flair for dark comedy,A Life of Adventure and Delightis a collection full of wisdom, wonder and reflection..

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was an English novelist and poet. "The Return of the Native" illustrates the tragic potential of romantic illusion and how its protagonists fail to recognize their opportunities to control their own destinies. Tempestuous Eustacia Vye passes her days dreaming of passionate love and the escape it may bring from the small community of Egdon Heath. Hearing that Clym Yeobright is to return from Paris, she sets her heart on marrying him, believing that through him she can leave rural life and find fulfilment elsewhere. But Clym has dreams of his own, and they have little in common with Eustacia's. Their unhappy marriage causes havoc in the lives of those close to them: Damon Wildeve, Eustacia's former lover, Clym's mother and his cousin Thomasin.

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was an English novelist and poet. "The Return of the Native" illustrates the tragic potential of romantic illusion and how its protagonists fail to recognize their opportunities to control their own destinies. Tempestuous Eustacia Vye passes her days dreaming of passionate love and the escape it may bring from the small community of Egdon Heath. Hearing that Clym Yeobright is to return from Paris, she sets her heart on marrying him, believing that through him she can leave rural life and find fulfilment elsewhere. But Clym has dreams of his own, and they have little in common with Eustacia's. Their unhappy marriage causes havoc in the lives of those close to them: Damon Wildeve, Eustacia's former lover, Clym's mother and his cousin Thomasin.

Thomas Hardy was an English novelist and poet. "The Return of the Native" illustrates the tragic potential of romantic illusion and how its protagonists fail to recognize their opportunities to control their own destinies. Tempestuous Eustacia Vye passes her days dreaming of passionate love and the escape it may bring from the small community of Egdon Heath. Hearing that Clym Yeobright is to return from Paris, she sets her heart on marrying him, believing that through him she can leave rural life and find fulfilment elsewhere. But Clym has dreams of his own, and they have little in common with Eustacia's. Their unhappy marriage causes havoc in the lives of those close to them: Damon Wildeve, Eustacia's former lover, Clym's mother and his cousin Thomasin.

In these elegant, unsparing and intimate stories, the Folio Prize-winning author, Akhil Sharma, exposes the paradoxes, ironies and harmonies that characterise modern life. Marrying the minimalism of Chekhov and Carver with a flair for dark comedy, A Life of Adventure and Delight is a collection full of wisdom, wonder and reflection. .

In these elegant, unsparing and intimate stories, the Folio Prize-winning author, Akhil Sharma, exposes the paradoxes, ironies and harmonies that characterise modern life. Marrying the minimalism of Chekhov and Carver with a flair for dark comedy, A Life of Adventure and Delight is a collection full of wisdom, wonder and reflection. .