“The Mayor of Casterbridge”–A Victorian Drama for Today
Victorian values seem remote — the language is obtuse, the character development Shakespearean in complexity. However, I adore Thomas Hardy. As the master of labyrinthine plots, Hardy surprises when the viewer least expects it. And the BBC/A & E mini-series, “The Mayor of Casterbridge” (2003), capitalizes on every deviant turn with brilliant acting, cinematography, and contemporary sensibility.
Hardy’s novel is immensely captivating in cinematic form. “The Mayor of Casterbridge” is an astringent tale. The dark and mordant Michael Henchard, mayor...