Under the Greenwood Tree

• Two of Thomas Hardy's so-called “Wessex” novels are bound together in this Kindle book: Under the Greenwood Tree & The Woodlanders Under the Greenwood Tree (1882) The plot revolves around the Mellstock parish choir church musicians and Dick Dewy, who becomes romantically involved with mistress, Fancy Day. Under the Greenwood Tree: A Rural Painting of the Dutch School is Thomas Hardy’s second novel and it was originally published without his name. in 1872. It is also the first of his great series of Wessex novels. The title taken from a song in Shakespeare's As You Like It (Act II, Scene V). The Woodlanders (1887) The Woodlanders is another of Hardy’s Wessex novels and it has been praised as his best work. The action takes place around the village of Little Hintock, and concerns the efforts of woodsman Giles Winterborne who plans to marry his childhood sweetheart Grace Melbury. About The Author Thomas Hardy 1840 –1928) was an English novelist and poet in the tradition of George Eliot. He was influenced by Romanticism, especially William Wordsworth. Charles Dickens was an important influence and, like Dickens, was highly critical of much in Victorian society. Hardy’s work, including Tess of d’Urbervilles and his last published novel Jude The Obscure are highly acclaimed.