The Hand of Ethelberta | Novel | Thomas Hardy

The Hand of Ethelberta novel was authored by Thomas Hardy. Thomas Hardy was an English novelist , poet and short story writer. Thomas Hardy was born on 2 June 1840 in Higher Bockhampton a hamlet in the parish of Stinsford to the east of Dorchester in Dorset, England.Hardy trained as an architect in Dorchester before moving to London in 1862; there he enrolled as a student at King's College London. 

He won prizes from the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Architectural Association. He joined Arthur Blomfield's practice as assistant architect in April 1862 and worked with Blomfield on All Saints' parish church in Windsor, Berkshire in 1862–64. A reredose, possibly designed by Hardy, was discovered behind paneling at All Saints' in August 2016. In the mid-1860s, Hardy was in charge of the excavation of part of the graveyard of St Pancras Old Church prior to its destruction when the Midland Railway was extended to a new terminus at St Pancras.

At the start of the book, it's told that Ethelberta was raised in humble circumstances however, through her work as a instructor, married well at the age of eighteen. Her husband died period of time once the marriage and, currently twenty-one, Ethelberta lives together with her relative-in-law, woman Petherwin. In the 3 years that have progress since the deaths of each her husband and in-law, Ethelberta has been treated to foreign travel and additional privilege by her helper, however restricted from seeing her poor family.


The events of the story concern Ethelberta's career as a known writer and storyteller as she struggles to support her family and conceal her secret—that her father could be a manservant. Beautiful, clever, and rational, she simply attracts four terribly persistent suitors (Mr. Julian, Mr. Neigh, Mr. Ladywell, and Lord Mountclere), however is reluctant to allow her much-coveted hand.

Download and read offline complete novel The Hand of Ethelberta by Thomas Hardy. You might also like to download and read A Laodicean and Well Beloved by Thomas Hardy.