Desperate Remedies by Thomas Hardy
The narrative follows the intertwined lives of Cytherea Graye and Edward Springrove, set against the backdrop of societal expectations and personal desires in 19th-century England. Cytherea, a young woman of beauty and grace, experiences a whirlwind romance with Edward, a charming architect. Their initial connection blossoms during a Christmas visit in London, where Cytherea's parents, having recently come into wealth, are supportive of their budding relationship. However, Cytherea's sudden renunciation of Edward, prompted by an undisclosed past, leaves him heartbroken and leads to years of unfulfilled longing. Eight years later, Cytherea and her brother Owen find themselves in dire financial straits after their father's death. Cytherea, determined to support her family, seeks employment as a governess but struggles to find a position. Eventually, she takes a job as a lady's-maid for the enigmatic Miss Aldclyffe, who harbors her own secrets and a mysterious connection to Cytherea's father. As Cytherea navigates her new role, she discovers that Miss Aldclyffe is not only a powerful figure but also a woman haunted by her past. The two women develop a complex relationship, with Miss Aldclyffe's affection for Cytherea growing alongside her possessiveness. Cytherea, meanwhile, grapples with her feelings for Edward, who is now engaged to another woman, creating a tension that complicates her emotional landscape. The story unfolds with themes of love, loss, and the societal constraints placed upon women. Cytherea's journey is marked by her struggle for independence and self-identity, as she confronts the realities of her situation and the choices she must make. The narrative culminates in a series of revelations about love, fidelity, and the impact of the past on the present, ultimately leading Cytherea to reassess her desires and the paths available to her. Through rich character development and intricate plotting, the work explores the nuances of human relationships and the often-painful intersections of personal ambition and societal expectation. Cytherea's evolution from a hopeful romantic to a woman shaped by her experiences reflects the broader themes of resilience and the quest for agency in a world that often seeks to define one's fate.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1871 · Genre: Fiction, Gothic, Romance · 60 chapters · 195,390 words
First lines
In the long and intricately inwrought chain of circumstance which renders worthy of record some experiences of Cytherea Graye, Edward Springrove, and others, the first event directly influencing the issue was a Christmas visit.
In the above-mentioned year, 1835, Ambrose Graye, a young architect who had just begun the practice of his profession in the midland town of Hocbridge, to the north of Christminster, went to London to spend the Christmas holidays with a friend who lived in Bloomsbury. They had gone up to Cambridge in the same year, and, after graduating together, Huntway, the friend, had taken orders.
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Desperate Remedies is listed on Textopian as a novel by Thomas Hardy, dated 1871 CE.
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- Work type: Novel
- Author: Thomas Hardy
- Date: 1871 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Gothic, Romance, Tragedy, Victorian Literature
- Length: 195,390 words
- Structure: 98 chapters, 3,529 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for Desperate Remedies by Thomas Hardy
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Fiction — The novel is a work of fiction that explores complex characters and narratives.
- Gothic — It incorporates elements of the gothic genre, including dark themes and psychological tension.
- Romance — The plot centers around romantic relationships and the emotional struggles of the characters.
- Tragedy — The story contains tragic elements, highlighting the characters' suffering and moral dilemmas.
Tags
romance · tragedy · mystery · Victorian · drama · love · betrayal · fate · desperation · society · class · gender
Contents
- December and January, 1835-36
- November the Twenty-Eighth. until Ten P. M
- November the Twenty-Ninth
- December to April
- The Fifth of January. before Dawn
- From the Sixth to the Thirteenth of January
- From the Twelfth of February to the Second of March
- March the Sixth
- March the Thirteenth. Three to Six o'Clock a. M
- March the Eighteenth
- March the Twenty-First. Morning
- The Ninth of July
- March the Twenty-Third. Midday
- March the Twenty-Ninth. Noon
- From the Twenty-Second to the Twenty-Seventh of July
- August the Fourth. Till Four o'Clock
- August the Eighth. Morning and Afternoon
- August the Ninth. One to Two o'Clock a. M
- August the Seventeenth
- From the Third to the Nineteenth of September
- From September the Twenty-First to the Middle of November
- From 1843 to 1861
- From Ten to Half-Past Eleven P. M
- From November the Twenty-Ninth to December the Second
- The Third of May
- Morning
- From the Eighteenth to the End of January
- The Third of March
- March the Tenth
- Eight o'Clock a. M
- March the Twentieth. Six to Nine o'Clock P. M
- Afternoon
- July the Eleventh
- One to Two o'Clock P. M
- Six o'Clock P. M
- July the Twenty-Ninth
- Four o'Clock
- Evening
- Two to Five a. M
- August the Twentieth
- September the Twentieth. Three to Four P. M
- November the Eighteenth
- October the Twelfth, 1863
- Half-Past Eleven to Twelve P. M
- December the Second. Afternoon
- From the Fourth of May to the Twenty-First of June
- Noon
- The First of February
- The Fifth of March
- March the Eleventh
- Afternoon
- From Nine to Ten o'Clock P. M
- From Five to Eight o'Clock P. M
- From the Twelfth to the Fifteenth of July
- Seven o'Clock P. M
- Midnight
- Half-Past Seven to Ten o'Clock a. M
- August the Twenty-Fifth
- Four to Five P. M
- November the Nineteenth. Daybreak