--- product_id: 17281567 title: "A Pair of Blue Eyes (Wordsworth Classics)" brand: "thomas hardy" price: "€ 23.51" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.be/products/17281567-a-pair-of-blue-eyes-wordsworth-classics store_origin: BE region: Belgium --- # A Pair of Blue Eyes (Wordsworth Classics) **Brand:** thomas hardy **Price:** € 23.51 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** A Pair of Blue Eyes (Wordsworth Classics) by thomas hardy - **How much does it cost?** € 23.51 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.be](https://www.desertcart.be/products/17281567-a-pair-of-blue-eyes-wordsworth-classics) ## Best For - thomas hardy enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted thomas hardy brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description A Pair of Blue Eyes by Thomas Hardy With a new Introduction by Cedric Watts, Research Professor of English, University of Sussex. A Pair of Blue Eyes, though early in the sequence of Hardy's novels, is lively and gripping. Its dramatic cliff-hanging episode, for example, is at once tense, ironic, feministic and erotic. With settings in Wessex and London, the novel also has some strongly autobiographical features, as the blue-eyed heroine, Elfride Swancourt, is based largely on Emma Gifford, who became Thomas Hardy s first wife. Elfride's vivacious nature attracts several lovers, but she is beset by sexual prejudice, and the ensuing ironies reveal the constraints of her times. A Pair of Blue Eyes provides an engaging and moving experience for today s readers. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Dimensions | 5.25 x 0.75 x 8 inches | | Edition | New Ed | | Isbn 10 | 1853262773 | | Isbn 13 | 978-1853262777 | | Item Weight | 7.2 ounces | | Language | English | | Print Length | 320 pages | | Publication Date | March 31, 1998 | | Publisher | Wordsworth Editions Ltd | ## Images ![A Pair of Blue Eyes (Wordsworth Classics) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81aDKgCgsnL.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Format** options. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fun book! *by on Reviewed in the United States May 18, 2026* Great book, language at times was hard to decipher but that was Hardy’s vocabulary of the time. Good plot, good read! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ One of Thomas Hardy's neglected novels *by on Reviewed in the United States October 4, 2018* *A Pair of Blue Eyes* is often called one of Hardy's minor novels -- which means it's usually passed over and ignored, in favor of his monumental successes, *Tess of the d'Urbervilles*, *Jude the Obscure*, or *Far From the Madding Crowd*. *Blue Eyes* is an enigmatic work, because it's not always clear who the protagonist is: Elfride Swancourt, the central female figure; Stephen Smith, who may be a stand-in for a youthful (and charmingly naive) Hardy himself; or Henry Knight, who resembles Hardy's mentor and friend Horace Moule, an older man more worldly, experienced, and intellectually sophisticated than the author in his early twenties. Then there's Elfride's father, the ironically-named Christopher Swancourt, the socially ambitious and self-promoting Anglican country vicar, who hovers over the others' lives like a dark cloud. The novel develops like a romance, with attractive (though flawed) male characters competing for the affection of a sweet, naive, but fetching female. The novel's progress is anything but conventionally romantic, however; its conclusion leads the reader far off the romantic path to an ending that explodes all the characters' hopes and expectations, and likely the reader's as well. *A Pair of Blue Eyes* was written before Hardy began *Tess of the d'Urbervilles*, and it's a worthy competitor to that more recognized novel. Elfride's life and Tess's warrant equally close scrutiny, and both characters reveal Hardy's developing sympathetic envisioning of the lives of young women, their choices concerning lovers and marital partners, and the ways in which their circumstances as women deprive them of the choices they deserve. The far-western English landscape -- Cornwall -- in which Elfride Swancourt lives her life is beautiful, harsh, and ruthless, not unlike the patriarchal social order that governs her being.This novel is more than a good read; it's gripping and mind-bending, for luke-warm Hardy readers or even for his most passionate fans. Give it a go. The final pages will grab you like a hand you didn't know was hovering over your shoulder. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you like Hardy novels, you'll like this one *by on Reviewed in the United States June 16, 2025* One of Thomas Hardy's earlier novels it has all the hallmarks of his writing style. His character development and descriptions of the English countryside and living are on full display. The story moves quickly at the beginning and at the end but does have a lull in the middle. I am a big fan of his work and this novel, although not his best work, is an enjoyable read. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.be/products/17281567-a-pair-of-blue-eyes-wordsworth-classics](https://www.desertcart.be/products/17281567-a-pair-of-blue-eyes-wordsworth-classics) --- *Product available on Desertcart Belgium* *Store origin: BE* *Last updated: 2026-11-02*