The Mayor of Casterbridge

I enjoy the writing style of Thomas Hardy, but I did not enjoy this novel. What a sad and terribly distorted life these people were created to lead in The Mayor of Casterbridge! I truly enjoyed Tess of the D'Ubervilles but cannot recommend this one to others. The bottom line: lies have a way of resurfacing and haunting an individual no matter the efforts to conceal. I understand that, but it is almost as if there is no mercy involved in the plot.