HARDY FORUM ARCHIVE H0093 11/15/00 "HARDY'S WESSEX" ============================================== From: peter hodges Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2000 16:03:16 GMT Subject: Thomas Hardy's Wessex Dear Forum, I am greatly interested in how Hardy's early life in rural Dorset, effected his novels and poetry later on in his life. In particular with regard to his use and description of nature, the extent to which the characters upbringing and lifestyle has an effect on their or others' tradegy (particularly in novels). Also, general information about Hardy's Wessex. Thank you in advance for your help Peter Hodges peter.hodges@orange.net ========== Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2000 10:31:06 -0800 From: Betty Cortus Subject: Re: Thomas Hardy's Wessex Dear Peter, A good place to start would be with the biographies, if you haven't already done so. Michael Milgate's _Thomas Hardy: A Biography_ Oxford UP, 1985, is generally considered the most balanced. You could also look at Anne-Marie Edwards's _In the Steps of Thomas Hardy_, which has a great deal of information about the places in Wessex on which Hardy has based (arguably loosely at times) certain locations in the novels. Best Wishes, Betty Cortus hardycor@mailhost2.csusm.edu ========== From: "Rebecca Hadley" Subject: Re: Thomas Hardy's Wessex Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2000 20:00:41 -0500 Peter, You might want to check out the just-published Oxford Reader's Companion to Hardy, ed. Norman Page. Entries germane to your interests include "Wessex"; "agriculture"; and "tragedy." Best wishes, Rebecca Hadley ==========