A paperback copy from Dell, a Laurel Edition from 1963. Almost as good as new. :-)

The blurb:

'In THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE Thomas Hardy for the first time turned his superb talents as a novelist to the creation of a central tragic character. As a result, and although it is the tenth of his fourteen novels, THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE is usually recognized as the first one of unquestioned greatness. In its focus upon a single towering figure it serves as a worthy and logical predecessor to the author's incomparable TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES.

The Mayor of Casterbridge tells with stark simplicity the painfully dramatic story of Michael Henchard, 'a man of character', whose life is determined and ultimately destroyed by his youthful and drunken act of selling his wife at auction. One of the world's great narratives of delayed but inevitable retribution, THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE has been repeatedly hailed as an undeniable masterpiece.'

#821 on the 1001 Books list. Must of course be read.

This is an undersized paperback with a very striking cover. I'll take a picture of it, I think, rather than describing it.

I got this book at a flea market at Bolteløkka elementary school in Oslo on Sunday, March 25th, 2007.

A dramatic and sad story. Deservedly a classic.

Reserved for release at the BookCrossing convention here in Oslo next month.

Convention release!

This book was left over on the book buffet after the Oslo Convention.

Released during the release walk from the convention venue to Vigeland park.