Moral Ambiguity and Magical Fetishism in Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge

In this episode, the Book Spider hosts tackle The Mayor of Casterbridge, by Thomas Hardy. Casterbridge is a complex novel about the rise and fall of Michael Henchard. After dramatically selling his wife and baby daughter to a stranger for five pounds, Henchard vows to abstain from alcohol for twenty years. Eighteen years after this event, the novel picks up with Henchard at the height of his powers, living as a prosperous corn merchant and the mayor of the small town of Casterbridge. However, after selling some bad grain to his constituents and being surpassed in business acumen by Farfrae, a newcomer, Henchard's fortunes fall into steep decline.