Thomas Hardy and Contemporary Literary Studies

Sep 21, 2026

Edited collection examining Thomas Hardy’s place in contemporary literary studies, tracing how Hardy’s works intersect with critical debates at the turn of the century. The book presents chapters from multiple scholars addressing culturalism, speech acts and community, literary discrimination, modernity and money, and the politics and origins of Wessex. It also considers textual studies, authorial intention, adaptations from page to screen, music and recorded culture, and readings of specific Hardy texts and poems.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages240

Reading Time10 h 5 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

Introduction: Hardy and Literary Studies at the Turn of the Century

Notes on Contributors

Notes

Works Cited

Index

palgravemacmillan # Thomas Hardy andContemporary LiteraryStudies Edited byTim Dolin and Peter Widdowson Thomas Hardy and Contemporary Literary Studies Other Publications by Tin Dolin MISTRESS OF THE HOUSE:Women of Property in the Victorian NovelTESS OF THE d'URBERVILLES(ed.)THE HAND OF ETHELBERTA(ed.)UNDER THE GREENWOOD TREE(ed.) Other Publications by Peter Widdowson1 ON THOMAS HARDY:Late Essays &Earlier TESS OF THE d'URBERVILLES:A New Casebook (ed.) RE-READING ENGLISH(ed.) LITERATURE(The New Critical Idiom) HARDY IN HISTORY:A Study in Literary Sociology E.M.FORSTER'S HOWARDS END:Fiction as History A READER'S GUIDE TO CONTEMPORARY LITERARY THEORY(co-edited withPeter Brooker) # Thomas Hardy and Contemporary LiteraryStudies Edited by Tim DolinCurtin University of Technology and Peter WiddowsonUniversity of Gloucestershire 米 Introduction,editorial matter and selection Tim Dolin and Peter Widdowson2004 Chapter 3◎J.Hillis Miller 2004 All other chapters Palgrave Macmillan Ltd 2004Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2004978-0-333-99445-0 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 1988or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copyingissued by the Copyright Licensing Agency,90 Tottenham CourtRoad,London WiT 4LP. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to thispublication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civilclaims for damages. The authors have asserted their rights to be identifiedas the authors of this work in accordance with theCopyright,Designs and Patents Act 1988. Published by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN Houndmills,Basingstoke,Hampshire RG216XS and175 Fifth Avenue,New York,N.Y.10010Companies and representatives throughout the world PALGRAVE MACMILLAN is the global academic imprint of the PalgraveMacmillan division of St.Martin's Press,LLC and of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd.Macmillan is a registered trademark in the United States,United Kingdomand other countries.Palgrave is a registered trademark in the EuropeanUnion and other countries. ISBN 978-0-230-38966-3(eBook) ISBN 978-1-349-43242-4 DOI 10.1057/9780230389663 This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fullymanaged and sustained forest sources.Logging.pulping and manufacturingprocesses are expected to conform to the environmental regulations of thecountry of origin. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.Library of Congress Catalog Card Number:2003066378 To my parents,Margaret and Bert Dolin T.D. To U.A.Fanthorpe and Richard Emeny,Honorary Fellows andFriends of the University of Gloucestershire,with gratitude —P.W. This page intentionally left blank Contents ix Acknowledgenents Notes on Contributors X xii A Note on Texts Used Introduction:Hardy and Literary Studies at the Turn of the Century1Tim Dolin and Peter Widdowson 1.Flesh and Spirit in Thomas Hardy14Terry Eagleton 2.Hardy and the Limits of Culturalism23Guy Davidson 3.Speech Acts,Decisions,and Community in The Mayorof Casterbridge36 J.Hillis Miller 4.Hardy or James?Thoughts on Academic LiteraryDiscrimination Today54Sinon During 5.Hardy,Barbarism,and the Transformations of Modernity65Brett Neilson 6.A Laodicean:Hardy and the Philosophy of Money80Roger Ebbatson 7.Story,History,Allegory:Some Ironies of Jude the Obscurefrom a Benjamin Perspective99Michael Hollington 8.The Contemporary,the All:Liberal Politics and the Originsof Wessex116Tim Dolin 9.'Saying that now you are not as you were':Hardy's 'Poemsof 1912-13'138Linda M.Shires 10.Hardy,History,and Recorded Music153Tim Armstrong viii Contents 11.Hardy and Contemporary Textual Studies:AuthorialIntention in The Trunpet-Maj

FAQs

Who edited this book?

Tim Dolin and Peter Widdowson edited the volume.

What is the scope of the chapters?

The chapters address diverse critical approaches to Thomas Hardy, including culturalism, speech acts, modernity, money, history, and contemporary textual studies.

Does the book cover specific Hardy works and themes?

Yes. It includes discussions of works such as The Mayor of Casterbridge, Jude the Obscure, The Trunpet-Major, and Hardy’s poems of 1912–13, along with related themes like liberal politics and Wessex.

Sep 21, 2026

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