The Distracted Preacher and Other TalesThe darkly passionate short stories of Thomas Hardy are compelling explorations of love, social class, superstition, and legend. This collection contains many of his finest and most representative works. Included are The Withered Arm, an eerie depiction of arcane witchcraft in nineteenth century England; Barbara of the House of Grebe, in which a beautiful man's tragic disfigurement by fire is savagely exploited by his rival; The Son's Veto, showing