Under the Greenwood Tree

Thomas Hardy's charming early novel, Under the Greenwood Tree, offers a warm, idyllic portrait of rural life in the fictional village of Mellstock. The story centers on the gentle courtship between Dic k Dewy, a simple but good-hearted member of the village church choir, and the beautiful new schoolmistress, Fancy Day. As their romance unfolds, it highlights the conflict between ancient, pastoral traditions—represented by the old choir—and the modern changes brought by Fancy, creating a poignant yet humorous picture of a vanishing English countryside. This novel is a lyrical, light-hearted escape that captures the deep-rooted spirit of Wessex.