My favourite of the handful of Hardy novels I've read.
This is a beautifully evocative Wessex romance, with lots of Hardy's trademark quirky background simple rural characters providing light relief.
Be aware though; the decision-making of the main characters is poor! With over a century of perspective, Victorian values are incredibly frustrating and provide endless ways for decent people to torture themselves and constrain their lives.
This is redeemed by the wonderfully vivid writing.