The Return of the Native is widely recognized as the most representative of Hardy's Wessex novels. He evokes the dismal presence and menacing beauty of Egdon Heath - reaching out to touch the lives and fate of all who dwell on it. The central figure is Clym Yeobright,the returning'native',and the story tells of his love for the beautiful but capricious Eustacia Vye.

As the narrative unfolds and character after character is driven to self-destruction the presence of the Heath becomes all-embracing,while Clym becomes a travelling preacher in an attempt to assuage his guilt.

Set against the seasonal changes of Egdon Heath,The Return of the Native is the story of Eustacia Vye,aproud and passionate young woman,whose heart leads her inevitably towards tragedy.

A delay in the marriage of Damon Wildeve and Thomasin Yeobright has allowed Wildeve time for second thoughts.He visits his former love,Eustacia,and is made to decide which of the two women to marry,for Eustacia has a prior claim and is of higher birth.Both women,however,are found to have rivals for Wildeve,and he must act quickly to secure a bride.

Thus the ambitions,passions and prejudices of the rural community are played out,each character facing dilemmas and moral decisions,possessing human weaknesses and struggling against a destiny that they cannot hope either to avoid or to conquer.

BOOK FIRST: THE THREE WOMEN

　Ⅰ A Face on which Time makes but little Impression

　Ⅱ Humanity appears upon the Scene, Hand in Hand with Trouble

　Ⅲ The Custom of the Country

　Ⅳ The Halt on the Turnpike Road

　Ⅴ Perplexity among honest People

　Ⅵ The Figure against the Sky

　Ⅶ Queen of Night

　Ⅷ Those who are found wbere there is said to be Nobody

　Ⅸ Love leads a shrewd Man into Strategy

　Ⅹ A desperate Attempt at Persuasion

　Ⅺ The Dishonesty of an honest Woman

BOOK SECOND: THE ARRIVAL

　Ⅰ Tidings of the Comer

　Ⅱ The People at Blooms-End make ready

　Ⅲ How a little Sound produced a great Dream

　Ⅳ Eustacia is led on to an Adventure

　Ⅴ Through the Moonlight

　Ⅵ The Two stand Face to Face

　Ⅷ A Coalition between Beauty and Oddness

　Ⅷ Firmness is discovered in a gentle Heart

BOOK THIRD: THE FASCINATION

　Ⅰ "My Mind to Me a Kingdom is"

　Ⅱ The new Course causes Disappointment

　Ⅲ Thefirst Act in a timeworn Drama

　Ⅳ An Hour of Bliss and many Hours of Sadness

　Ⅴ Sharp Words are spoken and a Crisis ensues

　Ⅵ Yeobright goes, and the Breach is complete

　Ⅶ The Morning and the Evening of a Day

　Ⅷ A new Force disturbs the Current

BOOK FOURTH: THE CLOSED DOOR

BOOK FIFTH: THE DISCOVERY

BOOK SIXTH: AFTERCOURSES