"The Return of the Native" is Thomas Hardy's sixth published novel. It first appeared in the magazine "Belgravia," a publication known for its sensationalism, and was presented in twelve monthly installments from January to December 1878. Because of the novel's controversial themes, Hardy had some difficulty finding a publisher; reviews, however, though somewhat mixed, were generally positive. In the twentieth century, "The Return of the Native" became one of Hardy's most popular and highly regarded novels.
