The Mayor of Casterbridge

The story unfolds with Michael Henchard, a young hay-trusser who, in a drunken state, sells his wife Susan and their infant daughter Elizabeth-Jane to a sailor at a country fair. Overcome with regret upon sobering up, he dedicates himself to a life free from alcohol for the next 21 years, hoping to atone for his impulsive actions. This dramatic decision sets the stage for a tale of redemption, loss, and the consequences of one's choices.