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This Quick Read edition includes both the full text and a summary for each chapter.

- Reading time of the complete text: about 12 hours

- Reading time of the summarized text: 34 minutes

"A Pair of Blue Eyes" is a novel by Thomas Hardy, published in 1873, which revolves around a love triangle involving Elfride Swancourt and her two suitors, Stephen Smith and Henry Knight. The story delves into Elfride's internal conflict between her heart, mind, and societal expectations. The novel's settings include gothic churches, coastal cliffs, and beaches. The characters are portrayed with emotional depth, and the novel is noted for its autobiographical elements related to Hardy's own life. Despite being categorized as one of Hardy's minor works, the novel has received critical acclaim for its complex characters and stirring plot. Notably, the scene in which Henry Knight reviews the history of the world over a cliff is a focus of literary criticism. The novel has been adapted into a BBC Radio 4 serial and has been reviewed as a remarkable piece of literature. Additionally, there were discussions about creating an opera based on the novel, but the project was halted due to Hardy's death.