Life's Little Ironies (Oxford World's Classics) [Paperback]

Thomas Hardy (Author), Alan Manford (Editor), Norman Page (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 20, 2000 | Series: Oxford World's Classics

The phrase "life's little ironies" is now proverbial, but it was coined by Hardy as the title for this, his third volume of short stories, including such classics as An Imaginative Woman and A Tragedy of Two Ambitions. Unified by his quintessential irony, strong visual sense, and engaging characters, these stories deal with the tragic and the humorous, the metaphysical and the magical. This edition is the first to be based on a critical examination of all available manuscript and printed versions of the texts.

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About the Author

Alan Manford is Head of English at Holy Trinity School Birmingham. Norman Page, who wrote the introduction is Professor Emeritus of Modern English Literature at the University of Nottingham.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (January 20, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192836633
• ISBN-13: 978-0192836632
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,613,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating piece of Hardy, May 17, 2000

By 

Liz Foster - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life's Little Ironies (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

As a great admirer of "Jude the Obscure" and "Tess of the D'Ubervilles," I was intrigued when I saw this collection of some of Hardy's shorter works, and was not disapointed. The common theme running through these sketches is Hardy's dissatisfaction with the institution of marriage. Written in Hardy's impeccable style, these stories are short and biting looks at the circumstances that surround and influence marriage. You'll find few happy endings among these tales, but they are an enjoyable read. It's always a pleasure to immerse oneself in Hardy's world and language, and the twisted little plots Hardy creates show a side of his genius I had not previously realized.

These stories are not as profound as some of Hardy's other works, and, by necessity, the characters are not as well developed. However, I would still recommend this book. For a fan of Tess or Jude, it's a fascinating look into the mind of Hardy at the time he was writing these novels. And for someone who's never read any Hardy, they are an easy and enjoyable introduction to a wonderful author.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just wonderful, June 9, 2002

By 

S. Griffin (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Life's Little Ironies (World's Classics) (Paperback)

What wonderful language! What wonderful characters! If you're looking for happy endings, don't look here. Tragedy, suicide, and deceivement abound in these short stories. (My 1965 hard-cover copy also includes A FEW CRUSTED CHARACTERS.) But if you appreciate remarkable writing that will take your breath away, this is it! Comparable to Hardy's THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE.