Under the Greenwood Tree

Title: Under the Greenwood Tree

Author: Thomas Hardy

Publisher: Wordsworth Classics

Format Read: Paperback

First published in 1872, “Under the Greenwood Tree” is something of a pastoral novel that captures the idyll of the Wessex countryside. This is a slim volume, and divided into 5 sections, the first four encompassing the English seasons.

Young Dick Dewey, the protagonist and member of a parish choir, soon finds himself entranced by Fancy Day. Fancy is a schoolmistress, and she is remarkably beautiful – so much so that Dewey isn’t the only suitor pursuing her. Some of his rivals, it seems, are far more accomplished.

And yet, romance blossoms. And of course, there’s a wee bit of chaos thrown into the mix. Fancy, with her skills as an organist, is proposed to again, and not by Dewey…what ensues is exactly the sort of thing Dewey would have hoped to avoid.

As for the ending? It is soft, idyllic, and sunlit – with a slight air of mystery.

I thought this slender novel a beautiful read. The language flows smoothly, and it was entertaining to read about Dewey and his youthful enthusiasm for just about everything – especially Fancy Day. There’s an ambience of gentle tranquility about the story, and it moves at an even pace. Change is about, and there is much humour in this lush setting.

Events unfurl with the turning of the seasons, and that, I thought, was presented lyrically. Characters are unique and memorable. Fancy alternates between being meek and independent, Dewey is rather naïve but honest, and his companions are, generally speaking, robust and true. Family is important here, and familial bonds keep these individuals going. For the world is not always kind, nor does it always bring the best tidings.

All in all, “Under the Greenwood Tree” presented, to me, a story reminiscent of a pastoral work of art.