Desperate Remedies

"Desperate Remedies" is the first published novel by the English author Thomas Hardy. It was initially released in serialized form in 1871 and later published as a book in 1874. The novel is set in a rural English county and follows the lives and intrigues of the central characters, Cytherea Graye and Edward Springrove. Cytherea is a young woman who becomes entangled in a web of secrets and love affairs.
The story explores themes of romance, betrayal, and societal expectations. "Desperate Remedies" is often classified as sensation fiction, a genre popular in the Victorian era that combined elements of mystery, romance, and melodrama. Hardy's early works, including this novel, have a different tone and style compared to his later, more well-known novels. While not as famous as some of Hardy's later novels, "Desperate Remedies" is an interesting early work that provides insight into the development of the author's storytelling skills and the themes that would become more prominent in his later, more celebrated novels.
The novel reflects the societal norms and expectations of the Victorian era, and the characters' decisions and actions are shaped by these conventions. It's an intriguing exploration of the human psyche and the constraints placed on individuals by the conventions of the time. In summary, "Desperate Remedies" by Thomas Hardy is his debut novel, set in rural England and exploring themes of love, betrayal, and societal expectations.
It provides a glimpse into the author's early writing and the Victorian era's conventions and norms.