artist Paul Verlaine. The book was
to prove an inspiration to the
symbolist movement, and to future
generations of poets and writers.FAR FROM THE
MADDING CROWD
(1874), THOMAS HARDYThe English author’s first popular
success, and the first to be set in
Wessex, Far from the Madding
Crowd by Thomas Hardy (see p.193)
centers on Bathsheba Everdene, an
independent and bold woman who
attracts three contrasting suitors:
devoted shepherd Gabriel Oak,neighboring farmer Boldwood,
and the dashing Sergeant Troy.
Creating evocative descriptions
of rural life, Hardy explores the
themes of rejection, poverty, faithful
love, and unprincipled passion.ANNA KARENINA
(1875–1877), LEO TOLSTOYA novel described by Dostoyevsky
as “flawless,” Anna Karenina by
Russian author Leo Tolstoy (see
p.181) traces the adulterous liaison
between Anna, the beautiful and
intelligent wife of Aleksy Karenin,
and Count Vronsky, a young
bachelor. Karenin discovers his
wife’s affair but, desirous of
maintaining his public position, he
refuses to divorce his wife. The
lovers move to Italy, have a child, and
live troubled lives. Having broken the
social codes of the day, Anna is
shunned by society. Running parallel
to Anna’s story is that of country
landowner Levin—a character that
Tolstoy based on himself—and Kitty,
who is related to Anna by marriage
and who was originally infatuated
with Vronsky. Following a difficult
courtship, Levin and Kitty ultimately
have a happy and fulfilling
marriage, reflecting Tolstoy’s belief
in the simple, pastoral life.DANIEL DERONDA
(1876), GEORGE ELIOTDaniel Deronda is the last work
that English novelist Eliot (see p.183)
completed. Notable for its exposure
of anti-Semitism in Victorian
Britain and its sympathetic
treatment of Jewish ideals, the
novel incorporates two strands.
The first concerns Gwendolen
Harleth, stifled and frustrated inan unhappy marriage; the second
describes Daniel Deronda, a wealthy
and compassionate man who, by
rescuing a young Jewish woman—
Mirah Lapidoth—discovers his
own Jewish roots. After Deronda
and Gwendolen meet by chance,
their lives begin to intertwine.
Deronda’s decision to support the
Jewish cause enables Gwendolen
to seek her own freedom.A DOLL’S HOUSE
(1879), HENRIK IBSENA three-act play by Norwegian
playwright, poet, and theater
director Henrik Ibsen, A Doll’s
House sparked outrage and
controversy when it was first
performed. The play portrays an
ordinary family—Torwald Helmer,
a bank lawyer, his wife Nora, and
their three children. However, the
play also expresses Ibsen’s critical
opinion of conventional marriage
when, after a serious disagreement
with her husband, Nora leaves both
him and their children to seek
independence and self-fulfillment.THE BROTHERS
KARAMAZOV
(1880), FYODOR DOSTOYEVSKYSome two years in the writing, The
Brothers Karamazov by Russian
writer Dostoyevsky (see p.174) was
the author’s final novel, and is often
considered to be his masterpiece.
Recounted by an unnamed first-
person narrator, the novel tells the
story of irresponsible wastrel
Fyodor Karamazov and his sons from
two marriages—Dimitri, a
hedonist; Ivan, a rationalist and
atheist; Alyosha, a man of deep
faith—and an illegitimate son,200 FURTHER READING
Henrik Ibsen
Considered to be the “father
of realism” and seen as one of
the trailblazers of Modernism
in theater, Ibsen was born in
Skien, southern Norway, in- He began writing plays
when he was 15, and was
determined to make this his
career. His play Brand (1865)
gained him recognition, while
the plays that followed, with
their biting social realism,
established him internationally.
Most of his dramas are set in
Norway, although he spent his
most productive years, from
1868 onward, working in Italy
and Germany, returning to
Norway in 1891 as a national
hero. Following a series of
strokes he died in 1906.
Key works1879 A Doll’s House (see right)
1881 Ghosts
1884 The Wild Duck
1890 Hedda Gabler
1892 The Master BuilderUS_198-203_FR_CH4.indd 200 08/10/2015 13:07