The Three Strangers - Hardcover

by Thomas Hardy (Author)

""The Three Strangers"" is a short story written by Thomas Hardy, first published in 1883. The story is set in rural England and follows the events that unfold when three strangers arrive at a farmer's house on a stormy night. The first stranger is a tall, dark man, the second is a short, fat man, and the third is a woman wearing a red cloak. The farmer and his wife welcome the strangers into their home, but as the night progresses, they begin to suspect that the three may not be who they seem. The story explores themes of trust, suspicion, and the unpredictability of human behavior. It is a classic example of Hardy's ability to create a sense of tension and mystery in his writing.A dancing-party was the alternative; but this, while avoiding the foregoing objection on the score of good drink, had a counterbalancing disadvantage in the matter of good victuals, the ravenous appetites engendered by the exercise causing immense havoc in the buttery. Shepherdess Fennel fell back upon the intermediate plan of mingling short dances with short periods of talk and singing, so as to hinder any ungovernable rage in either. But this scheme was entirely confined to her own gentle mind: the shepherd himself was in the mood to exhibit the most reckless phases of hospitality.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.