Another stunning success was the beginning of the series of Wessex Tales which was published after his second novel Far from the Madding Crowd. The novel was first published in 1874 and brought him instant success. He next wrote The Return of the native, published in 1878. Hardy moved with his wife to Max Gate, in a house designed by him where he wrote The Mayor of Casterbridge, published in 1886 followed by The Woodlanders (1887) and Tess of the d'Urbervilles (1891).