Who wrote The Mayor of Casterbridge?

• A. Jane Austen
• B. Charles Dickens
• C. George Eliot
• D. Thomas Hardy

Answer: (D)

This item tests your knowledge of who wrote a particular novel. The Mayor of Casterbridge is by Thomas Hardy, a major figure in late-Victorian fiction known for his Wessex novels and their blend of character, fate, and social setting. The story follows Michael Henchard and uses pride, impulsiveness, and consequences to drive the plot, themes that Hardy repeatedly explores in his rural, historically grounded worlds. The work was published in 1886 and stands as a prominent example of Hardy’s focus on how place and circumstance shape a person’s life. The other writers listed are known for different kinds of works: Jane Austen for early 19th-century social comedies, Charles Dickens for urban realism and social critique, and George Eliot for moral philosophy and community life in provincial settings. So, the author is Thomas Hardy.