I finished a book today. "The Trumpet Major" by Thomas Hardy. The book, though just decent, got me thinking. It's set at the time of Napolean's plans for the invasion of England, and it highlights a fair lady, and her three suitors. The book meanders quite randomly, with 2 of the 3 suitors (brothers at that) .. alternatingly courting her and giving her up for their brother. More interestingly... the woman does manage to be changed by words... and falls in and out of love with either one. The 3rd suitor only serves the purpose of being a Hindi Movie like villain. He runs after the maiden, attempts devious schemes.. and ends up being conned into marrying a woman of low character. As for the heroine, she ends up marrying the younger, more fickly minded fella, while the older, steadier guy leaves them and goes away to war.. where he dies. He loves her much more than his brother ever could... but he sacrifices all of it for his brother... for the brother he helped bring up... and the brother he loved.
an interesting portrayal of people... and...the way they think, though liberally smeared with chauvinistic thoughts.
4 comments:
That sounds similar to that movie you mentioned earlier. The failed actor's friend gives up a lot for his friend to be happy. In the end, the failed writer is injured, has a broken car, and has no girl... all while the actor has everything. Just a random comment.
Matteo
by 'failed actor', I meant 'failed writer'
Hmmm.. the failed writer isnt really injured... and he does have the girl:).. mainly coz he is a nice guy:-D. So there:-p
for a good Thomas Hardy book that is not chauvinistic but points out the chauvinistic ideas of his time, read Tess of the d'Urbervilles (if you haven't already). it made me cry, too.
- V
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