The Trumpet-Major
by Thomas Hardy
- First published
- 1880
- Reading level
- Plain English
- Price
- Free
About the book
"The Trumpet-Major" by Thomas Hardy is a historical novel published in 1880. Set in Weymouth during the Napoleonic Wars, it follows Anne Garland as she navigates the affections of three very different suitors: the honorable John Loveday, a trumpet major; his flighty sailor brother Bob; and the cowardly Festus Derriman. Against a backdrop of military camps and invasion fears, the brothers serve with Wellington and Nelson while Anne's heart wavers between duty and desire. Unusually for Hardy, the ending isn't entirely tragic—though fate looms ominously.
- Historical fiction
- England
- Great Britain
- Love stories
- Soldiers
- Wessex (England)
Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #2864. The Trumpet-Major on Wikipedia.
