Return of the Native (version 2 dramatic reading)
by Thomas Hardy
Chapter 1 of 49 Dramatis Personae and Preface
- Running time
- 15 h 3 min
- Language
- English
- Readers
- Alan Mapstone, Availle, Beth Thomas (1974-2020), Bob Neufeld, CaprishaPage and 15 others
Chapters
About this recording
Clym Yeobright returns home to Egdon Heath, a scattered collection of houses on the isolated Wessex moors, and is caught up in a "love pentagon" which includes: his cousin, Thomasin Yeobright; the shadowy inn-keeper, Damon Wildeve; the controversial and romantic Eustacia Vye; and the mysterious reddleman, Diggory Venn, whose skin is stained completely red from his work. This work has all the well-known marks of Thomas Hardy: the Wessex landscape, a choice of lovers, a wedding gone wrong, a particularly shy 30-something man, and a woman with an independent spirit. But, The Return of the Native is unique in its pagan undertones - the first five books take place over a year and a day, starting on All Hallow's Eve, and hints of magic and witchcraft. (Summary by Libby Gohn)
Characters:
Narrator: Bob Neufeld
Clym Yeobright: Tadhg
Eustacia Vye: Amanda Friday
Damon Wildeve: Chris Cartwright
Thomasin Yeobright: Rapunzelina
Diggory Venn: Chuck Williamson
Mrs. Yeobright: Michele Eaton
Grandfer Cantle and "Saint George": alanmapstone
Timothy Fairway: tovarisch
Humphrey, Bonfire Boy, Party Guest, Raffle Woman, Inn Girl and Rachel: Elizabeth Klett
Olly Dowden and Charley: Charlotte Duckett…
