The Hand of Ethelberta

Description

The Hand of Ethelberta is a novel by English author Thomas Hardy, first published in 1876. The novel is a satirical comedy of manners that follows the life of the eponymous Ethelberta, a clever and ambitious young woman who comes from a poor background but rises to become a highly sought-after society hostess. Ethelberta uses her wit and beauty to navigate the complicated social world of Victorian England, managing to maintain several romantic relationships and keeping her humble origins a secret. Throughout the novel, Hardy uses Ethelberta's story to comment on Victorian society, its attitudes towards women, and the hypocrisy and snobbery of the upper classes. The Hand of Ethelberta is considered one of Hardy's lesser-known works, but it is nonetheless an interesting and entertaining portrayal of Victorian society and a witty commentary on the social and cultural norms of the time.

This book has 143,352 words, 260 pages in the PDF version, and was originally published in 1876.

Production notes: This ebook of The Hand of Ethelberta was published by Global Grey in 2019, and updated on the 9th February 2023. The artwork used for the cover is 'The Painter's Wife Roza Karinger' - by Anton Karinger.