A Mere Interlude Paperback – July 8, 2021

"Love is strange. Love is beautiful.Love is dangerous. Love is never what you expect it to be."- Penguin. Great Loves collectionThis stunning book is simply breathtaking and which captures in essence that indescribable, powerful emotion known as love. Thomas Hardy's `A mere interlude' is one of the greatest classics within literary history, wherein captured is tragedy and heartrending events highlight how internal feelings can have such dramatic consequences. I was enchanted by Baptista's story where she is flung into the midst of an arranged marriage, to her parent's old neighbor, who is fixed upon her carrying out `her duty'. Upon reaching home Baptista encounters her lost lover, whom she elopes with and throwing caution to the wind follows her hearts desires. Sudden and shocking tragedy causes a change in events as she returns home and fulfills her duty by going ahead with the marriage, hoping to keep the other brief love a secret...buried deep within her heart. This exquisite tale of reaching out for the forbidden fruit, temptation and pursuing our hearts longing is acutely compelling as it speaks of truth and sincerity.A spinechilling, heartbreaking and (for the main protagonist) earth shattering tragedy, that is profoundly affecting and emotive to the core. I was touched deeply by this tale of true love versus obligations, as past values are brought to the fore (reminiscent of any arranged marriage in the eighteenth - nineteenth century, as well as holding still some relevance today). Vividly atmospheric and colorful descriptions make this memorable tale as striking as say a Brontë novel, The Forsyth saga, Lorna Doone or other similar classics with a forbidden love."When you have loved unconditionally one man and lost that love, it leaves a wound that never heals, a sad and broken heart, a void forever"- Quote. Unknown."When one is in love, one always begins by deceiving one's self, and one always ends by deceiving others. That is what the world calls a romance."- Quote. Oscar Wilde.I would highly recommend this remarkable book to all readers who delight in romance, tragedy and who seek well-written, outstanding literary classics.

I think these are the ideal Thomas Hardy sample stories. They're not his best work, but they are pretty strong little stories, and quick to read so if you like them...then maybe you'll like some of his novels. This collection as it was put together is apparently part of the Penguin "Great Loves" collection, a fact of which I was unaware until now. The stories in this don't really shout out "I'm about great love" to me...these are Thomas Hardy works so they are kinda depressing, but in the good way. If you want some nice, short digestible stories with Rod Serling-esque twists that emphasize the complexities of love in the suffocating confines of society then yeah, this little book makes sense to read. If you want stuff about "great love" I'd go elsewhere.

3 short and amusing stories about love and the curious things it does to us.very quick to read the stories are quirky and fun to read.although the theme is about how heartbreaking love can be, i felt a lot more deeper issues were the main focal point.recommended for those seeking to understand love a bit better only to realize how impossible love is to understand.

Nice little book at a good price

I love this book so much, I got the cover graphics tattoed on me. Thomas Hardy is a great writer and this book proves so.