The Hand of Ethelberta - A Comedy in Chapters NEW

Thomas Hardy was an English novelist, short-story writer, and poet. He destroyed the manuscript of his first, unplaced novel, but tried again encouraged by mentor and friend George Meredith. His important work took place in an area of southern England he called Wessex, named after the English kingdom that existed before the Norman Conquest. Published after Hardy's Far From the Madding Crowd, The Hand of Ethelberta is a change of pace using comedy and farce. As Hardy put it, "This Somewhat Frivolous narrative was produced as an interlude between stories of a more sober design, and it was given the subtitle of a comedy to indicate -- though not quite accurately -- the aim of the performance." Ethelberta Chickerel is the daughter of a lady's maid, who forms a liaison with a knight's son who promptly dies. His mother reconciles to Ethelberta, has her educated and brought into society, and then dies herself, leaving Ethelberta the townhouse and nothing else. She must make her way in the world by her wits, with the native instincts of a girl of the lower classes underlying the veneer of sophistication, as she attempts to secure her future.

Powered by Frooition Pro Click here to view full size. Full Size Image Click to close full size. The Hand of Ethelberta - Book NEW Author(s): Thomas Hardy, Tim Dolin Format: Paperback # Pages: 462 ISBN-13: 9780140435023 Published: 01/01/1998 Language: English Weight: 0.90 pounds Description Brand new book. Description Description Description Description About Us Payment Shipping Customer Service FAQs Welcome to MovieMars All items are Brand New. We offer unbeatable prices, quick shipping times

Adventuress and opportunist, Ethelberta reinvents herself to disguise her humble origins, launching a brilliant career as a society poet in London with her family acting incognito as her servants. Turning the male-dominated literary world to her advantage, she happily exploits the attentions of four very different suitors. Will she bestow her hand upon the richest of them, or on the man she loves? Ethelberta Petherwin, alias Berta Chickerel, moves with easy grace between her multiple identities, cleverly managing a tissue of lies to aid her meteoric rise. In "The Hand of Ethelberta" (1876), Hardy drew on conventions of popular romances, illustrated weeklies, plays, fashion plates and even his wife's diary in this comic story of a woman in control of her destiny.

Full Length, Comedy Characters: 2 male, 2 female Complete interior set Recent widower, writer George Schneider, is encouraged by his younger brother Leo to start dating again. Which sends George into even more depression after a series of bad matches. Then Leo comes up with Jennie Malone and she's a keeper. Still, it's a bumpy trip on the road to Dreamland for these not-so-young lovers. George and Jennie stumble on, overcoming both their hesitation on the rebound and emotional neediness. In a hilarious, farcical subplot, Leo has a fling with Faye, Jennie's neurotic married friend. "A sure smash!"-Variety "Lovely whimsical and touching and always funny...most of the time downright hilarious."-New York Post