Description
1961 Macmillan Edition
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Title & Subtitle: Yes, Macmillan released a 1961 edition titled The Life and Death of the Mayor of Casterbridge: A Story of a Man of Character, emphasizing the tragic arc of Michael Henchard’s rise and downfall
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Format:
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It’s typically a pocket-sized hardcover edition, modest in dimensions, often featuring map endpapers or frontispieces depicting Wessex or Casterbridge
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One notable version is the “monogram binding”: plum-colored cloth with a blind-stamped “TH” monogram on the upper board, gilt decoration on the spine, and a red-stained top edge. This version is considered particularly attractive and collectible
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Length & Binding:
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Page counts vary slightly depending on binding—ranging around 381 to 386 pages
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Example listings note a blue cloth hardcover (“Greenwood Edition”) with 386 pages , and other listings describe red cloth with dust jackets or similar bindings
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Rarity & Collectibility:
- This version adheres to the original 1886 text, portraying Michael Henchard’s impulsive act of selling his wife and daughter, his later success, and eventual tragic ruin—core themes across all editions
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The subtitle—“A Story of a Man of Character”—highlights the novel’s psychological depth and Henchard’s moral complexity.
