The Hand of Ethelberta: A Comedy in Chapters: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Hand of Ethelberta: A Comedy in Chapters: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Hand of Ethelberta: A Comedy in Chapters is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Hardy, Thomas (1840–1928).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Hand of Ethelberta: A Comedy in Chapters" by Thomas Hardy is a novel written during the late 19th century. The story revolves around Ethelberta, a young widow of complex background and cleverness, who seeks to navigate societal expectations and her own aspirations while dealing with her past love and current relationships. The book promises a mix of social commentary and character-driven humor. The opening of the novel introduces us to Ethelberta as she steps out of the Red Lion Inn in a Wessex town, showcasing her charm and the attention she garners from local men, despite being a widow. The narrative hints at her intriguing history, including her rise from a governess to marrying into a nobler family, and her complex relationship with her mother-in-law. As Ethelberta enjoys a walk, she encounters various local characters who speculate about her past and current circumstance, establishing her as a figure of curiosity. The beginning sets the stage for her re-encounter with Christopher Julian, an old acquaintance, hinting at unresolved past feelings and the complexities that surround her life as she balances between her past and the challenges of her present.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Hand of Ethelberta: A Comedy in Chapters
- Author credits: Hardy, Thomas (1840–1928)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Courtship -- Fiction
- Humorous stories
- Impostors and imposture -- Fiction
- Wessex (England) -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: British Literature
- Category: Humour
- Category: Novels
Read this edition
View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


