The Well-Beloved

This audiobook recounts the story of Jocelyn Pierston, a talented sculptor captivated by an elusive ideal of perfect womanhood that influences his entire life and work. After returning to his native Isle of Slingers, his life becomes intertwined with three generations of the Caro family, exploring themes of desire and the fleeting nature of beauty. As Hardy’s final novel, it offers a blend of fantasy and reflection on male longing, departing from his usual realism.