Collector's Edition Laminated Hardback with Jacket One reckless decision can shape a man's entire life-just ask the prosperous Michael Henchard, who once sold his wife and child at a country fair in a drunken haze. Years later, he has clawed his way to power as the mayor of Casterbridge, a man of wealth and influence, but fate has a long memory. When ghosts from his past return, threatening everything he has built, he finds himself ensnared in a relentless struggle against secrets, rivalry, and his own unforgiving nature. In this gripping tale of pride, ambition, and the merciless hand of destiny, one man's rise and fall proves that the past is never truly buried. Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge is a powerful reflection of 19th-century England's shifting social and economic landscape. Set against the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution, the novel captures the tension between tradition and progress, exploring how fate and personal choices shape individual destinies. Hardy's richly detailed portrayal of rural life and class struggle offers a compelling critique of Victorian morality, ambition, and redemption. Through its tragic, deeply human protagonist, the novel remains a timeless meditation on character, consequence, and the unrelenting forces of change.