The WoodlandersThe Woodlanders
Score Classic
What it's about
Country girl Grace Melbury comes home from school feeling she has risen above her suitor, the simple woodsman Giles Winterborne. Encouraged by her socially ambitious father, she's drawn instead to Dr Fitzpiers, a sophisticated newcomer.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's Hardy's novel of betrayal, disillusionment and moral compromise in a secluded community.
You'll love it if you liked
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
The Mayor of Casterbridge
The Mill on the FlossGood to know
It's a classic, and it's not a happy story.
By the numbers
- Readers36 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #198 of the 260 young adult books we rank
- #797 of the 924 classics we rank
- #2551 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Thomas Hardy
Jude the ObscureTess of the D'UrbervillesThe Mayor of CasterbridgeIf you like this, read next
The Great Gatsby
Cranford
My Ántonia
Purple Hibiscus
Looking for Alaska
The Brothers KaramazovExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Woodlanders worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,551 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 59.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Woodlanders about?
Country girl Grace Melbury comes home from school feeling she has risen above her suitor, the simple woodsman Giles Winterborne. Encouraged by her socially ambitious father, she's drawn instead to Dr Fitzpiers, a sophisticated newcomer.
How long does it take to read The Woodlanders?
About 12 hours (468 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Woodlanders?
If you liked it, try Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy or The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot.