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Book Synopsis

The daughter of a wealthy railway magnate, Paula Power inherits De Stancy Castle, an ancient castle in need of modernization. She commissions George Somerset, a young architect, to undertake the work. Somerset falls in love with Paula but she, the Laodicean of the title, is torn between his admiration and that of Captain De Stancy, whose old-world romanticism contrasts with Somerset''s forward-looking attitude.
Paula''s vacillation, however, is not only romantic. Her ambiguity regarding religion, politics and social progress is a reflection of the author''s own. This new Penguin Classics edition of Hardy''s text contains an introduction and notes that illuminate and clarify these themes, and draws parallels between the text and the author''s life and views.

A Laodicean

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    A Paperback / softback by Thomas Hardy, John Schad, John Schad

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      Book details

      Publisher Penguin Random House Group
      Imprint Penguin Classics
      Published 31 July 1997
      ISBN-13 9780140435061
      978-0140435061
      ISBN-10 0140435069
      Also in:
      Contemporary Fiction Books by Thomas Hardy

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      The daughter of a wealthy railway magnate, Paula Power inherits De Stancy Castle, an ancient castle in need of modernization. She commissions George Somerset, a young architect, to undertake the work. Somerset falls in love with Paula but she, the Laodicean of the title, is torn between his admiration and that of Captain De Stancy, whose old-world romanticism contrasts with Somerset''s forward-looking attitude.
      Paula''s vacillation, however, is not only romantic. Her ambiguity regarding religion, politics and social progress is a reflection of the author''s own. This new Penguin Classics edition of Hardy''s text contains an introduction and notes that illuminate and clarify these themes, and draws parallels between the text and the author''s life and views.

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