BROADCASTS.com

Under the Greenwood Tree

by Thomas HARDY (1840 - 1928)

Part the First - Winter - Chapter 1: Mellstock-Lane

This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)

---

Listen next episodes of Under the Greenwood Tree:
Part the Fifth - Conclusion - Chapter 1: 'The Knot There's No Untying' , Part the Fifth - Conclusion - Chapter 2: Under the Greenwood Tree , Part the First - Winter - Chapter 2: The Tranter's , Part the First - Winter - Chapter 3: The Assembled Quire , Part the First - Winter - Chapter 4: Going the Rounds , Part the First - Winter - Chapter 5: The Listeners , Part the First - Winter - Chapter 6: Christmas Morning , Part the First - Winter - Chapter 7: The Tranter's Party , Part the First - Winter - Chapter 8: They Dance More Wildly , Part the First - Winter - Chapter 9: Dick Calls at the School , Part the Fourth - Autumn - Chapter 1: Going Nutting , Part the Fourth - Autumn - Chapter 2: Honey-taking, And Afterwards , Part the Fourth - Autumn - Chapter 3: Fancy In The Rain , Part the Fourth - Autumn - Chapter 4: The Spell , Part the Fourth - Autumn - Chapter 5: After Gaining Her Point , Part the Fourth - Autumn - Chapter 6: Into Temptation , Part the Fourth - Autumn - Chapter 7: Second Thoughts , Part the Second - Spring - Chapter 1: Passing by the School + Chapter 2: A Meeting of the Quire , Part the Second - Spring - Chapter 3: A Turn in the Discussion , Part the Second - Spring - Chapter 4: The Interview with the Vicar , Part the Second - Spring - Chapter 5: Returning Home Ward , Part the Second - Spring - Chapter 6: Yalbury Wood and the Keeper's House , Part the Second - Spring - Chapter 7: Dick Makes Himself Useful , Part the Second - Spring - Chapter 8: Dick Meets His Father , Part the Third - Summer - Chapter 1: Driving out of Budmouth , Part the Third - Summer - Chapter 2: Further along the Road , Part the Third - Summer - Chapter 3: A Confession , Part the Third - Summer - Chapter 4: An Arrangement