HARDY FORUM ARCHIVE HO2060 9/26/02 "DATING THE ACTION OF FFMC" ============================================================== From: "Gary Alderson" Subject: Reub II? Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2002 20:37:12 +0100 I just noticed that the fiddler at the harvest supper/wedding party in Far from the Madding Crowd manages to include "my sonnies" as an expression when he's asking what tune to play next. Is this yet another example of Hardy putting leading characters from one novel into others as extras? Or was R. Dewey not the only fiddler to use that expression? I don't know whether the dates would fit; assuming UTGT is set 1840-ish, Reuben would still be going strong in 1870, if he was as fit as his father. But I'm not sure what date Far >from the Madding Crowd is set? ========== Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2002 08:57:36 -0400 Subject: Re: Dating the action of *FFMC* From: "Philip & Andrea Allingham" That almost Dickensian catch-phrase of fiddler Reuben Dewey is a very subtle introduction to *Far From the Madding Crowd* of a character from an earlier novel, *Under the Greenwood Tree* (which is obviously set well before 1870). Another "continuing" character, who bestrides the colossi of *FFMC* and *The Mayor of Casterbridge*, is Farmer James Everdene (one should also note, I suppose, Boldwood himself, who appears in Ch. 31 of *MoC*, and Lawyer Long from Ch. 52 of *FFMC* who also appears in Ch. 37 of *MoC*). Since Henchard's fall from capatalistic ascendency occurs before the repeal of the Corn Laws (1845) and Everdene is one of his creditors, one may assume that *FFMC* is set in the next decade, although there is no overt reference to ther Crimean War or any other historical events that would clinch such a dating, and anything prior to 1870 (*FFMC* having been published serially throughout 1874, of course) is feasible. "Lead, Kindly Light" (Ch. 56) was not set to music until 1861. I note no reference to railways or other mid-century technology, but the painter Danby's being in vogue (Ch. 20) points to a period after the 1840s. However, Troy's sword-exercises and uniform (especially as depicted by Helen Paterson in *The Cornhill* illustrations) have always suggested to me a period just prior to the Franco-Prussian War. The experts on the text of *FFMC* are, of course, Rosemarie Morgan and Bob Schweik. ========== Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2002 07:00:31 -0700 From: Betty and/or John Cortus Subject: Re: Reub II? Dear Gary, Philip Allingham was correct in pointing out that Rosemarie Morgan is the expert to consult on the internal dating of FFMC. The following information is gleaned from her books. *Cancelled Words* and *Women and Sexuality in the Noels of TH.* The youthful Boldwood who features in *The Mayor of Casterbridge* set in the 1840s is a "silent reserved young man" (MC 244) but a middle-aged suitor in FFMC. If a 30 year gap is allowed for this aging then FFMC is indeed set in the 1870s. In support of this, and on information supplied by F.B Pinion who tells us that the farm on which Boldwood's farm was modelled was built in 1867 (but is cobwebbed in FFMC) then, again, the 1870s would be likely-- certainly not earlier than 1867. Next, Hardy refers to this novel's setting (to his publishers) as being set in the here and now-- he even supplies drawings of contemporary farm tools to illustrate this (as Philip also observes). Finally, the MS version makes mention of Troy running off to war (omitted from the book proper) which, given TH's interest in the Franco-Prussian war fits the bill of the 1870s. Betty Cortus ==========