Good, but I can see why this is classified as one of Thomas Hardy's "lesser novels."

Typically, I feel like his plots - though invariably tragic, frustrating, and nearly impossible at times - at least mimic the irony of real life in such a way that makes them highly relatable. That is part of what makes them so appealing. It is a little cathartic to read about other people living a series of unfortunate events, sometimes with redemption, sometimes without ...

This book followed those same almost formulaic tragic twists and turns. Okay. Until the last chapter - which edged into extreme melodrama and almost read like a parody of a soap opera. It was too much. It about did me in and ruined the first 95% of the book for me.

Furthermore, for as much as Thomas Hardy is considered "progressive" (for the Victorian era) in his treatment of lower classes and of women and relationships, and for as much as he created a "fresh" female character in Lady Viviette Constantine and made her do all the daring things (they really weren't all that daring by modern standards), it almost felt like he repeatedly punished her character for doing those exact things or for even considering a life that would not have been typical of an "old," well-classed widow in her mid-thirties. And he didn't necessarily punish her simpy with social or family pressure, which would be expected. No, he created "acts of God" to thwart her each time she looked up. I just found it interesting.

It was still good. Not his best characterizations perhaps, but still an emotional, moving, and well-written story overall. Poor Viviette.

As always, the atmospheric sense of place was wonderful. And the scientific and poetic descriptions of astronomy and the night sky were pretty fun all on their own.