Adam Bede

Originally published in 1859, Adam Bede is a novel of rural realism set at the close of the eighteenth century. The plot concerns a love triangle hinging upon Hetty Sorrel who is pretty yet vain and essentially self-centred. The other corners are represented by the local carpenter Adam Bede and the young squire Arthur Donnithorne. While Adam seeks to court his beloved, Arthur takes the direct route and seduces her only to subsequently leave her. Unfortunately, after Hetty agrees to marry Adam, she finds out that she is pregnant with Arthur's child. From there, matters escalate. Adam Bede is notable for its sense of realism. The setting is no rural idyll and the principle characters do not wonder around philosophising. The language is naturally spoken, which can be difficult but is entirely in keeping with the reality of rural England at the turn of the nineteenth century.