Adam Bede

Set in the rural community of Hayslope, the novel explores themes of love, betrayal, and the complexities of human relationships. Carpenter Adam Bede is infatuated with Hetty Sorrel, unaware of her secret romance with the charming squire's son, Arthur Donnithorne. Their affair leads to tragic consequences affecting not only the lovers but also the pious preacher Dinah Morris. George Eliot's vivid portrayal of the landscape and the characters creates a rich, earthy reality that resonates throughout the narrative, reminiscent of a folk song.