Five guineas is all it took for an out-of-work labourer named Michael Henchard to sell his wife and infant daughter at a county fair! Now, years later, Michael has climbed the ladder of prosperity and success in the Casterbridge community, but his past actions continue to haunt him. The ghosts of his past confront him when his wife and daughter return to Casterbridge. Will the tragically flawed Michael Henchard be successful in keeping his family together, or will his pride and fury result in his downfall? Set against a beautiful rural landscape, Hardy takes us on a dramatic journey and makes us question . . . what is "a man of character"? Other titles by Thomas Hardy: Far From The Madding Crowd, Tess of The d'Urbervilles.