"The Return of the Native" is the sixth book by legendary British author Thomas Hardy and is widely considered to be his masterpiece.

At the opening of the book, a strange and complicated plot is already well underway. We meet a tradesman, Diggory Venn, who is transporting Thomasin Yeobright home, after her prospective marriage to Damon Wildeve is delayed due to an error in the marriage certificate. Venn soon discovers that Wildeve himself intentionally caused the error and that the entire idea of marriage to Thomasin is a sham to rouse the jealousy of Eustacia Vye, a passionate and strong-willed woman whom Wildeve secretly desires. Enter Clym Yeobright, Thomasin's cousin, whom Eustacia becomes convinced is her means of escaping her much-hated home.

Upon its release, "The Return of the Native" generated a great deal of controversy due to its frank descriptions of sexual politics and desire, but the book has become one of the most celebrated novels of English literature and has been adapted to the stage and screen many times. Thomas Hardy's "Return of the Native" is presented here in its original and unabridged format.