Celebrating Thomas Hardy - New Perspectives on Thomas Hardy - The Thomas Hardy Society

Sep 20, 2026

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Celebrating Thomas Hardy: Insights and Appreciations presents new perspectives on Thomas Hardy through curated scholarly essays edited by Charles P. C. Pettit. The volume brings together critical voices spanning poetry, pastoral literature, Wessex, country life, and literary discourse, with chapter studies ranging from moments of vision to stability and subversion. Front matter outlines the Thomas Hardy Society’s mission, events, and publications, situating the collection within ongoing conferences and international engagement. Includes references and an index.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages215

Reading Time5 h 31 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

Foreword by Furse Swann

Contents

Preface by Charles P. C. Pettit

Notes on the Contributors

1 Thomas Hardy's Poetry: Poetic Apprehension and Poetic Method

2 Moments of Vision-and After

3 Stability and Subversion: Thomas Hardy's Voices

4 Thomas Hardy and John Clare: A Soil Observed, a Soil Ploughed

5 Hardy's Friend William Barnes

6 Hardy and Decadence

7 Hardy, George Moore and the 'Doll' of English Fiction

8 'Wives All': Emma and Florence Hardy

9 Bodily Transactions: Toni Morrison and Thomas Hardy in Literary Discourse

10 The Far and the Near: On Reading Thomas Hardy Today

11 Hardy, The Hand of Ethelberta, and Some Persisting English Discomforts

Index

CELEBRATINGTHOMAS HARDYInsights and AppreciationsEdited byCHARLES P.C.PETTIT CELEBRATING THOMAS HARDY NEW PERSPECTIVES ON THOMAS HARDY THE THOMAS HARDY SOCIETY (President:The Earl of Stockton) The Society welcomes anyone interestedin Hardy's writings,his life and histimes,and it takes pride in theway in which at its meetingspeople come together in aharmony which would havedelighted Hardy himself.Among its members aremany distinguished literaryand academic figures,andmany more who love andenjoy Hardy's work sufficientlyto wish to meet fellow enthusiastsand develop their appreciation of it. Members receive copies of The Thomas Hardy Journal which ispublished three times a year and is regarded as the leadingsource of Hardy studies.Lectures,guided tours and walks inHardy's Wessex,and other events take place throughout theyear,and there is a biennial conference in Dorchester whichbrings together students from all over the world. For information about the Society please write to: The Thomas Hardy SocietyP.O.Box 1438DorchesterDorset DT11YH CelebratingThomas Hardy Insights and Appreciations Edited by Charles P.C.Pettit First published in Great Britain 1996 by MACMILLAN PRESS LTD Houndmills,Basingstoke,Hampshire RG216XS and London Companies and representatives throughout the world A catalogue record for this book is availablefrom the British Library. ISBN 978-1-349-14015-2 ISBN 978-1-349-14013-8(eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-349-14013-8 First published in the United States of America 1996 by ST.MARTIN’S PRESS,INC., Scholarly and Reference Division,175 Fifth Avenue,New York,N.Y.10010ISBN 978-0-312-15974-0 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Celebrating Thomas Hardy:insights and appreciations/edited byCharles P.C.Pettit. p.cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-312-15974-0 1.Thomas Hardy,1840-1928—Criticism and interpretation. 2.Pastoral literature,English—History and criticism.3.Wessex(England)—In literature.4.Country life in literature. I.Pettit,Charles P.C.PR4754.C331996823'.8--dc20 96-3598 CIP Editorial matter and selection ◎ Charles P.C.Pettit 1996 Foreword C Furse Swann 1996;Chapter 1 ◎James Gibson 1996;Chapter 2@Laurence Lemer 1996;Chapter 3 C Lance St John Butler 1996;Chapter 4◎Ronald Blythe 1996;Chapter 5 ◎ Peter Levi 1996;Chapter 6◎ Gillian Beer 1996;Chapter 7 C Simon Curtis 1996;Chapter 8 ◎Michael Millgate 1996;Chapter 9◎Rosemarie Morgan 1996;Chapter 10◎ Peter Rothermel 1996;Chapter 11◎Edward Blishen 1996. Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1996 All rights reserved.No reproduction,copy or transmission ofthis publication may be made without written permission. No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced,copied ortransmitted save with written permission or in accordance withthe provisions of the Copyright,Designs and Patents Act 1988,or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copyingissued by the Copyright Licensing Agency,90 Tottenham CourtRoad,London WIP9HE. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to thispublication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civilclaims for damages. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 105040302010099989796 Contents Foreword by Furse Swann Preface by Charles P.C.Pettit x Notes on the Contributors 1 Thomas Hardy's Poetry:Poetic Apprehensionand Poetic Method1James Gibson 2 Moments of Vision-and AfterLaurence Lerner 22 3 Stability and Subversion:Thomas Hardy's Voices39Lance St John Butler 4 Thomas Hardy and John Clare:A Soil Observed,a Soil PloughedRonald Blythe 54 5 Hardy's Friend William BarnesPeter Levi 68 6 Hardy and Decadence90Gillian Beer 7 Hardy,George Moore and the 'Doll'ofEnglish Fiction103Simon Curtis 8 'Wives All':Emma and Florence Hardy115Michael Millgate 9 Bodily Transactions:Toni Morrison and ThomasHardy in Literary Discourse136Rosemarie Morgan vi Contents 10 The Far and the Near:On Reading Thomas

FAQs

Who edited the collection Celebrating Thomas Hardy: Insights and Appreciations?

The collection is edited by Charles P. C. Pettit.

What is the role of The Thomas Hardy Society described in the book’s opening pages?

The Thomas Hardy Society welcomes people interested in Hardy’s writings, life, and times, and organizes meetings, lectures, guided tours, walks, and conferences, including a biennial conference in Dorchester.

What topics do the chapter list in the contents cover?

The contents address Hardy’s poetry and methods, moments of vision, voices, pastoral and Wessex themes, country life, and intertextual literary discussions involving other authors and perspectives.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Eliana