Rating: 
Summary: A Beautiful, Compelling and Descriptive work
Review: "The Return of the native" is the first novel that I have read of Thomas Hardy's. The novel begins with a detailed yet beautiful description of the Egdon Heath, which to a Hardy beginner would appear too descriptive to go on reading. However, once the characters are introduced and the plot of the story begins, it is an unstoppable read. I have read a Hardy's poem titled "The convergence of the Twain" that reveals Hardy's faith in "Immanent Will" that drives the events of this universe. This novel reinforces that faith of his. Though a reader can clearly see a solution to the problem that the characters are in, the characters themselves are helpless pawns in the hands of the Immanent will that drives the show. A not so unusual story, more or less predictable in the plot, gains its advantage from the beauty of Hardy's language. I have not come across a better author who can so exactly transform what he visualizes/sees into words. The book is definitely a treasure to be kept and re-read.
Rating: 
Summary: A great novel wonderfully brought to life
Review: Warning: This audio book is highly addictive!!!
Maybe you have to like Thomas Hardy before making your mind up to settling down to listen your way through all the 12 tapes. But you will learn to yearn for just another chapter of this, after the first tape. Another word to the yet undecided: the Return is not half as dismal as Jude the Obscure or Tess of the Durberville.
On top of the drama between six persons and the heath, which figures as another dramatis personae, there comes Mr. Rickman's superb reading. He gives every person not only his or her own characteristic voice. But his descriptions of the landscape make you see the scenery (apart from the introduction, the description of Mrs. Yeobright's garden on the day of her fatal excursion is compelling. He makes you feel the sweltering heat of that day). Just two highlights certainly are the dicing-game on the midnight heath (tape 6) as well as Clyms and Eustacias final dispute (tape 10). But the whole recording in itself is a highlight.
Just one technical afterthought: It would be sensible to edit it on CD. Tapes do not keep so well in the long run and I tremble that one day the tapes may give up.
Rating:
Summary: Return With Me to 11th Grade
Review: I had a GREAT English teacher in the 11th grade (he was the chairman of the department), and he kept us busy reading over a dozen works of great literature (mostly American literature, but some others). We read, among others, Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Hawthorne, Sherwood Anderson, Shakespeare, and Hardy's "Return of the Native." I'm a gosh awful procrastinator, and waited until the weekend before the exam to begin this book. No sweat! I was so immersed in this story, I finished it with enough time to watch some tv on Sunday night!Why did I share all the above with you? So that I could make the following point: Of all the great literature I read that year, this was my very, very favorite. Don't miss this one!
Rating:
Summary: Undoubtedly Hardy
Review: Granted, the story-line isn't exactly one of those "happily ever after" tales, but as a general fan of Hardy, I find it interesting literature. Alan Rickman, (being absolutely one of my favorite actors under the sun,) reads very well, (hey, you've got to love that accent, right?) The discriptions of the Heath and the somehow forlorn characters are well thought-out, and give a nice affect. This is a nice addition to any audio collection... just sit back for an hour or two to relax, and listen to a splendid reading with a dramatic but smooth effect.
Rating:
Summary: Egdon Heath & Its Quirky Inhabitants...
Review: I recently finished "Return of the Native," and am deeply saddened that the novel is no longer part of my life. Like all Hardy's characters and settings, Egdon Heath and its quirky inhabitants became so familiar to me I felt as though I, too, had been to Bloom's-End or Mistover and had admired the bewitching Eustacia Vye and devious Damon Wildeve. Hardy's books are frequently those of people tossed about by the cruel whims of fate, and though the reader can clearly see a "way out," the characters almost never can. Such is the case with wild Eustacia, deceptive but smitten Wildeve, calm and sweet Clym, and innocent Thomasin. As the reader plods across Egdon Heath and enters their lives, it is both frustrating and exciting to witness their missteps and the consequences they all pay, and to realize that there must indeed be casualties by the novel's end. But what a wonderful trip it is, regardless of its sometimes depressing nature. Hardy was a master; I regret that I have only two more of his novels to read before there are no more!
Rating: 
Summary: More matter and less art, Thomas
Review: First of all, this review is slightly biased. I'm a junior in high school and was assigned to read Return of the Native for english class. Maybe I would enjoy it more if I had picked it up on my own, but I'm not so sure. So, I'll try to be as objective as possible. My single biggest problem with Return of the Native is its damned wordiness. Hardy is somehow able to say so much without saying anything at all. This is understandable, if you know the history of the book. It was a Victorian novel - meaning it was published as a serial. As such, Hardy was paid by the word. Therefore, he uses A LOT of words. Hey, everyone has to make a buck. Quick example - One entire chapter is devoted to a physical description of one character. Please... The writing is not bad. At times, Hardy's descriptions are quite beautiful. The problem is, when you turn the page you're still reading the same beautiful description. Then a few paragraphs later that beautiful description persists in its beautiful descriptiveness. Eventually it gets to the point where you want to take that beautiful description and pound it over the head with its own bloated leg. Hardy also loves those allusions -- I can't tell if he's trying to write a novel or impress me with his trivial knowledge of Greek mythology. The plot could use some work as well... it's really just a convoluted boy meets girl story, with no deep meaning hidden underneath. Hardy's supposedly a realist when it comes to human nature, but in the end, the "good" characters find happiness and the "bad" characters get what's coming to them. Not quite as realistic as I might like... Most of the characters annoyed me... except Diggory Venn, he's the man. If you want a good boy-meets girl story that reveals something about human nature skip Return of the Native and read the Great Gatsby. It has one third the length but three times the impact. And it's just as beautiful.
Rating:
Summary: Quiet, genius at work.
Review: I laughed out loud as i read the first sentence: I had forgotten until i read it that it is quoted by Monty Python in their hilarious "Novel-Writing" sketch. But that might well be the only time i laughed during the book; this is not a humorous book but rather, like "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" ~ though less explicitly developed ~ the story of people tossed about by fate, chance, the gods, events, and the results are not pretty. Hardy writes beautifully, to be sure; not a phrase is misplaced in driving towards the effect of horror as good people are driven to extremity by events out of their control. It is hard to say that there is a hero in the book, unless perhaps the heath in Wessex on which all the action takes place. Certainly none of the main characters are completely admirable ~ though none is despicable either ~ in their actions and interactions. I have had a history of struggling with Hardy: Though i have read him before it has always felt like a chore (James is another whose novels give me that feeling); here i had no such difficulty, rather i raced (insofar as is possible) through it, hurrying toward the end, caring about each of the characters, and curious about the plot. Now my feeling is one of envy for a master of the language, one who is quoted in the OED as the authority for certain words' usage; envy, and admiration for the wonderful way he was able to put words together to make a place he obviously loved come so alive for another. I'd love to go to "Egdon Heath" sometime, to see it as it "embrowned itself moment by moment...." It might even raise a smile and shiver of horror both in me.
Rating:
Summary: long & boring
Review: I had (note the word had, not got)to read Return of the Native for Honors English. If you're one of those people that likes to just sit back and relax and read a nice easy to follow, understandable book, DON'T read this one. However, if you can handle the Heath peoples' odd speech, an exotic word choice, and long, drawn out descriptions of EVERYTHING, this book's for you! I think Return of the Native had a good, interesting plot, but it was so long winded that it was hard to pay attention (I fell asleep everyday in that class for two weeks reading this).
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Characters and the Setting
Review: Although the 19th Century prose requires a bit more effort from the reader than most 20th Century novels, the brilliant characterizations of people like Clym Yeobright and Eustacia Vye plus the lovingly detailed descriptions of the unique (and fictional) location, Egdon Heath, make this work a pleasure to read for anyone who is willing to work at it a bit. Hardy describes his characters so solidly that, although they cause one another's misfortunes for the most part, we can understand and, to at least some degree, sympathize with all of them. Their flaws and mistakes seem real and understandable - not forced by the needs of the plot. This is not a "message novel." As far as I can tell, Hardy has nothing to say about social or moral problems of 1830s England in this book. But the place he takes you is unforgettable and the people you meet there make it worth the trip.
Rating:
Summary: Hardy and Rickman, what a pairing!
Review: What could be better than to be saved from monotony of rush hour traffic than to hear Thomas Hardy's Characters come alive with the meleflous voice of Alan Rickman. I was completly caught up with Eustacia Vye and her impossible quest for love and far away places. It was both a heartbreaking and lovely way to spend 12 hours on the road! Get this audio book as soon as possible! You won't regret it!
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