At a country fair near Casterbridge, Wessex, a young
hay-trusser named Michael Henchard overindulges in rum-laced furmity and
quarrels with his wife, Susan. Spurred by alcohol, he decides to auction
off his wife and baby daughter, Elizabeth-Jane, to a sailor, Mr. Newson,
for five guineas. Once sober the next day, he is too late to recover his
family, particularly since his reluctance to reveal his own bad conduct keeps
him from conducting an effective search. When he realizes that his wife and
daughter are gone, probably for good, he swears not to touch liquor again for
as many years as he has lived so far…
