Rating: 
Summary: A powerful tragedy
Review: The notes on the back of my copy of this book describe it as a "Sophoclean" tragedy. This is a very apt description. Like the plays of Sophocles, Hardy's novel proceeds directly from one mistake and misunderstanding to the next with very little padding in between. As a result, the plot can seem unlikely (as several below have commented). It's sad, however, if people reject it for that reason.This novel contains one of the more fascinating characters in literature. Michael Henchard is a man of the "old school" who conducts business on a hand shake and who constantly acts and reacts to the visible world. Despite this, he is often aware of his mistakes after the fact, yet is unable to use this knowledge to avoid future pitfalls. He's contrasted brilliantly with Donald Farfrae, who is a "new man" who trusts in the future. Ironically (and I suspect intentionally) Hardy make Farfrae seem a far shallower man than Henchard. Yet, the "new man" ends up on top. The end of this novel is one of the bitterest in all of literature. Henchard's will being an almost total negation of his existance. What could be more tragic than that for a flawed, but essentially good man?
Rating: 
Summary: Excruciatingly Boring
Review: I began reading this novel since it has such a great reputation as being a "classic." However, after reading well over a hundred pages, the book failed to keep my attention in the least bit. The plot is weak and pathetic, and the characters are too one-dimensional. Although it may pick up later, it certainly is not worth it.
Rating:
Summary: a classic
Review: Hardy's exploration into the character of Henchard makes this novel an all time classic. Those that have rated it low have simply not given themselves the time to read it properly. Henchard's complexity, his heroic flaws, remind me of Shakespere's King Lear. Hardy paints an equally vivid picture of the characters around him, especially Elizabeth, an understated character who grows with the book. It is a must for anyone who has read and enjoyed Hardy.
Rating:
Summary: What a shame
Review: Very few people can see the real meaning of reading, especially reading a classic. God, geez, why review a book when you have NO clue of what happened, why even review this book if you had been forced to read it for class? Well, now that there are reviews with 5 stars and a few with 1, try it out, see what all the rants and rave's about.
Rating:
Summary: two thumbs down
Review: I read this book for a class, and I am sorry to say that it was a disappointment. It is a silly tale, and totally unrealistic. I cannot believe that something like this could be considered a "classic". Mike sure made some dumb choices, and it is unrealistic! No one could make that many blunders. It was bogged down by unnecessary details, etc. All-in-all, a 100% waste. Don't buy this book. You've been warned.
Rating:
Summary: Brillant in its scope of charaterlization
Review: THis book was intresting becaues of its plot, and the vivid charters. Each charater was very disticnt and you were always able to understand him and sympthize with him no matter what he did. The book was brillantly writen at that. Buy it now.
Rating:
Summary: No Words to describe such a MASTERPIECE
Review: Wow - Thanks to this book I was completely wooed over as being a Hardy lover. His writing is clear and the action presented in such a classic is much more different than that presented in any other classic book. Do yourself a big favour and BUY THIS BOOK!
Rating:
Summary: UNPUTDOWNABLE
Review: Not like any other literary classic you will read. It has the pace of a thriller and keeps you guessing till the end. Who would have ever thought that a 19c. novel could be unputdownable? As you voraciously consume the book you may not have time to notice how the major character studies so typical of his other novels are compromised, lacking depth and detail. The end is disappointingly predictable.
Rating:
Summary: The Mayor of Castorbridge is TERRIFIC!!!!
Review: Hardy does exceptional work with his attention to detail. It keeps the reader entranced. The story of a man who, though he means well, always does wrong. Out of his love for certain persons, he ends up hurting them. Ironically, he hurts himself as well. The novel is filled with amusing dialouge, suspense, and plenty of sarcastic wit. I give this novel an 11 on a scale of 1-10! I definitely recommend it to all persons who enjoy ironic and challenging books.
Rating:
Summary: Loaded with Irony
Review: I loved the irony. I mean, how much worse could life get for the Mayor? After selling his wife, and swearing off drinking, what was left for him? When he meets his wife again, it becomes to turning point of his life once again, including his "daughter".
| 
