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Available
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Publication
Macmillan (1979), Edition: New Wessex, Paperback, 448 pages
Description
Hardy's first published work, Desperate Remedies moves the sensation novel into new territory. The anti-hero, Aeneas Manston, as physically alluring as he is evil, even fascinates the innocent Cytherea, though she is in love with another man. When he cannot seduce her, Manston resorts todeception, blackmail, bigamy, murder, and rape. Yet this compelling story also raises the great questions underlying Hardy's major novels, which relate to the injustice of the class system, the treatment of women, probability and causality. This edition shows for the first time that the sensationnovel was always Hardy's natural genre. It is based on the first edition text, and includes later prefaces and the Wessex Poems "dissolved" into prose.
User reviews
LibraryThing member mwittman
Loved Thomas Hardy when I was in high school, mostly because one of my teachers kept going on (and on) about Julie Christie as Bathsheba in the movie version of "Far From the Madding Crowd." Yeesh. What a thing to remember. Anyhow, had never read this Hardy before, and could not put it down. And
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that comment is about 75% good and the rest bad to ambivalent. It had everything in it - identity theft and hoax, suicide (or was it really an accidental fall?) and murder (2X), a very descriptive arson, blackmail and extortion and my personal favourite, a pseudo lesbian scene that had me wondering how it got published in the first place. Mind you, it doesn't flow in places, it PLOWS through, which means Hardy probably thought that if he threw in the kitchen sink re STUFF, he'd get published. It worked. I could not put it down because goddammit I had to find out who was who, who was actually murdered, and who marries whom - in the end. Give it a go, and with this one, I DO suggest red wine, and an ability to flip through the long winded sections describing the Dorset countryside. I've been there, and words, no matter how good, don't do it justice. Well, the undeveloped bits anyways. Show Less
LibraryThing member arubabookwoman
Desparate Remedies, Thomas Hardy's first published novel, is a story of blackmail, murder and romance. When Cytherea, a newly impoverished young woman, takes a position with Miss Aldclyffe as a ladies' maid, she is surprised to learn that Miss Aldclyffe also bears the unusual name of Cytherea. Is
Before becoming Miss Aldclyffe's maid, Cytherea was in love with Edward. She still loves Edward, but has had to break off the relationship when she discovered he had other obligations. Mr. Manston, Miss Adlclyffe's steward, admires and ultimately falls in love with Cytherea. Although he is dark and brooding (influenced by his name, probably, I pictured him as Charles Manson), Miss Aldclyffe unaccountably favors him and urges Cyntherea to accept his offers of marriage. Why is Miss Aldclyffe so anxious she marry Mr. Manston? Is there something going on between Mr. Manston and Miss Aldclyffe?
This novel has most, if not all, of the elements of the Victorian 'Sensation Novel': bigamous marriages, misdirected letters, romantic triangles, heroines in physical danger, drugs/potions/poisons, characters who adopt disguises, strained coincidences. On top of these melodramatic elements, there is an incident that can only be described as a lesbian love scene--at least to me it seemed to go far beyond what I've read of the affection Victorian women displayed to one another.
Much less titillating is the scene in which Cytherea and Edward first recognized their love for one another, as they are rowing in a boat:
'The boat was so small that at each return of the sculls, when his hands came forward to begin the pull, they approached so near to her that her vivid imagination began to thrill her with the fancy that he was going to clasp his arms around her. The sensation grew so strong that she could not run the risk of again meeting his eyes at those critical moments, and turned aside to inspect the distant horizon; then she grew weary of looking sideways, and was driven to return to her natural position again. At this instant he again leant forward to begin, and met her glance by an ardent gaze. An impulse of girlish embarassment caused her to give a vehement pull at the tiller-rope, which brought the boat's head round til they stood directly for shore.'
And then: 'She breathed more quickly and warmly; he took her right hand in his own right: it was not withdrawn. He put his left hand behind her neck til it came round to her left cheek; it was not thrust away. Lightly pressing her, he brought her face and mouth towards his own; when at this, the very brink, some unaccountable thought or spell within him suddenly made him halt--even now, and as it seemed as much to himself as to her, he timidly whispered, 'May I?''
Ah--they don't write love scenes like that anymore, do they? Still, this book is much weaker than Hardy's other novels. Cytherea is innocent and artless. I much prefer Sue of Jude the Obscure.
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there a mysterious connection between the two women?Before becoming Miss Aldclyffe's maid, Cytherea was in love with Edward. She still loves Edward, but has had to break off the relationship when she discovered he had other obligations. Mr. Manston, Miss Adlclyffe's steward, admires and ultimately falls in love with Cytherea. Although he is dark and brooding (influenced by his name, probably, I pictured him as Charles Manson), Miss Aldclyffe unaccountably favors him and urges Cyntherea to accept his offers of marriage. Why is Miss Aldclyffe so anxious she marry Mr. Manston? Is there something going on between Mr. Manston and Miss Aldclyffe?
This novel has most, if not all, of the elements of the Victorian 'Sensation Novel': bigamous marriages, misdirected letters, romantic triangles, heroines in physical danger, drugs/potions/poisons, characters who adopt disguises, strained coincidences. On top of these melodramatic elements, there is an incident that can only be described as a lesbian love scene--at least to me it seemed to go far beyond what I've read of the affection Victorian women displayed to one another.
Much less titillating is the scene in which Cytherea and Edward first recognized their love for one another, as they are rowing in a boat:
'The boat was so small that at each return of the sculls, when his hands came forward to begin the pull, they approached so near to her that her vivid imagination began to thrill her with the fancy that he was going to clasp his arms around her. The sensation grew so strong that she could not run the risk of again meeting his eyes at those critical moments, and turned aside to inspect the distant horizon; then she grew weary of looking sideways, and was driven to return to her natural position again. At this instant he again leant forward to begin, and met her glance by an ardent gaze. An impulse of girlish embarassment caused her to give a vehement pull at the tiller-rope, which brought the boat's head round til they stood directly for shore.'
And then: 'She breathed more quickly and warmly; he took her right hand in his own right: it was not withdrawn. He put his left hand behind her neck til it came round to her left cheek; it was not thrust away. Lightly pressing her, he brought her face and mouth towards his own; when at this, the very brink, some unaccountable thought or spell within him suddenly made him halt--even now, and as it seemed as much to himself as to her, he timidly whispered, 'May I?''
Ah--they don't write love scenes like that anymore, do they? Still, this book is much weaker than Hardy's other novels. Cytherea is innocent and artless. I much prefer Sue of Jude the Obscure.
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LibraryThing member LyzzyBee
Kindle - Hardy Collection
His first book, and so first in Ali's reading challenge book group reads. A real pot-boiler with hidden wives and lost letters, reminiscent of "The Woman in White" and the racier Francis Brett Youngs, and with distinct touches of the Gothic. But it does also iinclude some
His first book, and so first in Ali's reading challenge book group reads. A real pot-boiler with hidden wives and lost letters, reminiscent of "The Woman in White" and the racier Francis Brett Youngs, and with distinct touches of the Gothic. But it does also iinclude some
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lovely descriptive and nature writing that we'll see blossom later on. Show Less
LibraryThing member gypsysmom
I have joined a Thomas Hardy reading group and this is the first book we have read because it was the first one he published. In form it is somewhat like Woman in White by Wilkie Collins rather than Hardy's better known books which are character studies more than anything. The last third of the
Cytherea Graye goes to be a maid/companion to Miss Aldclyffe. When Miss Aldclyffe was young she had met and was loved by Miss Graye's father but, for unknown reasons, she had refused his offer to marry. Shortly after Cytherea arrives at Knapwater House, Miss Aldclyffe's father dies leaving Miss Aldclyffe in possession of a considerable estate. She hires a steward named Manston and is anxious for Cytherea and Manston to marry. Cytherea though has fallen in love with Edward Springrove, a colleague of her architect brother. The Springroves are tenants of Miss Aldclyffe's and Cytherea learns that Edward is engaged to his cousin. She then takes Manston more seriously. However, Manston is not a single man and his wife turns up one evening. Then, during a fire, the wife disappears and is deemed to have died in the fire. So the way appears clear for Cytherea and Manston to marry. And that's when it starts getting interesting.
Unlike a lot of Hardy, there is a happy ending so keep reading.
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book really picks up and became quite a page-turner.Cytherea Graye goes to be a maid/companion to Miss Aldclyffe. When Miss Aldclyffe was young she had met and was loved by Miss Graye's father but, for unknown reasons, she had refused his offer to marry. Shortly after Cytherea arrives at Knapwater House, Miss Aldclyffe's father dies leaving Miss Aldclyffe in possession of a considerable estate. She hires a steward named Manston and is anxious for Cytherea and Manston to marry. Cytherea though has fallen in love with Edward Springrove, a colleague of her architect brother. The Springroves are tenants of Miss Aldclyffe's and Cytherea learns that Edward is engaged to his cousin. She then takes Manston more seriously. However, Manston is not a single man and his wife turns up one evening. Then, during a fire, the wife disappears and is deemed to have died in the fire. So the way appears clear for Cytherea and Manston to marry. And that's when it starts getting interesting.
Unlike a lot of Hardy, there is a happy ending so keep reading.
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LibraryThing member jeffome
A late 1800's English countryside romance of sorts that is chock-full of curious mysteries that kept me in the dark until clarified at the end. And this book has deceit, death, bigamy, murder, suicide, and of course, the big country manor house. Slightly convoluted with a full slate of remarkable
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coincidences, but interesting enough that i was eager for the end to answer all my questions. Better than i expected. Show Less
LibraryThing member LARA335
Hardy's first novel, typical of him for the descriptions of the countryside and weather and love entanglements, but unusual in that it developes into a mystery with an increasingly fiendish villain.
But within the story Hardy sheds light on the social and economic horrors of the day. He
But within the story Hardy sheds light on the social and economic horrors of the day. He
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sympathetically portrays the plight of Cytheria, whose only option is to become a lady's companion, dependent upon an eccentric employer, and then forced into marriage when illness threatens destitution for her brother. Show Less
LibraryThing member PhilSyphe
“Desperate Remedies” differs greatly from all other works by Thomas Hardy. This is his attempt at "the sensational novel", and I for one feel he succeeds well.
While Hardy’s genius isn’t at its greatest here, he still delivers a quality narrative with plenty of engaging scenes and an
While Hardy’s genius isn’t at its greatest here, he still delivers a quality narrative with plenty of engaging scenes and an
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interesting plot. Show Less
LibraryThing member burritapal
This starts out slow and you're almost yawning, but by the end you're figuratively sitting on the edge of your seat. A brother and sister are left orphans when their architect father tumbles from the tower work he's supervising. The brother, not yet completed his architect apprenticeship, can't yet
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support his sister. Cytherea advertises first as a governess, and finally as a lady's maid, to try to support herself (this is mid-nineteenth century England). The crabby rich woman who hires her, hates her as a maid, but Cytherea softens her heart with her sweetness and grace, and allows herself to be talked into remaining as her companion. There are a lot of secrets going on with this rich lady, though, and the author is a master of twists and turns of plot. I could hardly wait to learn all the answers to my questions about Manston, and Cytherea's tocaya. A thriller mystery that does not disappoint. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1871
ISBN
0333177606 / 9780333177600