HARDY FORUM ARCHIVE HO3028 5/3/03 "ASSESSING A LAODICEAN"
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From: "BRIAN DEVONALD" <BRIAN@devonaldspace.freeserve.co.uk>
Subject: ASSESSMENT OF A LAODICEAN
Date: Sat, 3 May 2003 13:52:49 +0100
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I have just finished reading A Laodicean and it is ,without doubt ,a
good novel. People have said -it is a poor novel,not worth bothering
with,a failure.This novel is well written,well constructed.With one
of Hardy's funniest characters even if he is devious and dishonest:
Dare.How many living novelists could write a novel as good as A
Laodicean?The only living novelist I have read who gives Hardy a
decent challenge is Julian Barnes. What do others think? The moral
of this is -judge everything with your own critical faculties no
matter what others say and ,also,Three Cheers For A Laodicean! Brian Devonald BRIAN@devonaldspace.freeserve.co.uk
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Date: Sat, 3 May 2003 07:45:29 -0700
From: Betty Cortus <hardycor@owl.csusm.edu>
Subject: Re: ASSESSMENT OF A LAODICEAN
Brian, I too have just fnished reading a _A Laodicean_ , actually
rereading it after many years. I must say I found it very agreeable
reading, and its construction, and character representation quite a bit
more complex than I remembered.
I also recently reread _Two on a Tower_, and, unfortunately, found it
rather more of a disappointment than the first time around. Some of its
incidents especially struck me as a little too implausible for that willing
suspension of disbelief. I would like to hear the experiences of others
rereading the lesser discussed novels after a considerable period of time.
Betty Cortus
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From: "Patrick Roper" <patrick@prassociates.co.uk>
Subject: RE: ASSESSMENT OF A LAODICEAN
Date: Sat, 3 May 2003 16:12:41 +0100
How many living novelists could write a novel as good as A Laodicean?
The only living novelist I have read who gives Hardy a decent
challenge is Julian Barnes. What do others think? An
interesting point. What, apart from Hardy, do Hardy enthusiasts
really enjoy reading? It would be interesting to see if there
is any general concensus. A modern novel I greatly
appreciated was Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
I also feel quite passionate (at times) about Don Quixote
and Virgil (as in the latter case TH seemed to feel).
Patrick Roper
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Date: Sat, 3 May 2003 12:52:14 -0700
From: Betty Cortus <hardycor@owl.csusm.edu>
Subject: Re: ASSESSMENT OF A LAODICEAN
I should have mentioned in my earlier message that _A Laodicean_ seems to
have been attracting a renewed appreciation in recent years. To cite just
a few instances, Andrew Radford's perceptive essay "The Marriage of
Ancient and Modern in A Laodicean" recently published in TTHA's _The
Hardy Review_ Vol.V, describes as actually "extraordinary" the
"treatment of archaic features grafted onto a disconnected present," in
this novel which even Hardy himself pronounced "a mechanical and ordinary
production" (188). I remember, too, with pleasure Professor Toru Sasaki's
lecture, "A Laodicean as a Novel of Ingenuity" given at the 2000
Conference in Dorchester. Then, of course, there was our own extended Forum
discussion last month on the correct way to pronounce the word "Laodicean."
Perhaps it is time to reassess this novel which Radford describes as
"underrated." (185).
Betty Cortus
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From: "hiroaki TAMURA" <h_tam_cr@yahoo.co.jp
Subject: Re: ASSESSMENT OF A LAODICEAN
Date: Sat, 3 May 2003 20:50:24 -0600
My first encounter with TH was in 1967, less than a year before the first
memorable THOMAS HARDY FESTIVAL in Dorchester. I read Tess and The
Well-beloved and went to Dorchester to walk around for about ten days.
Laugh at me, I actually walked around like those people in TH's works.
I still own and cherish the programme:timetable which was in Dorchester
museum then. But alas! I must add that I couldn't attend.
In the following couple of years I have read all his novels and short
stories two or three times and some works more than that, thinking of writng
something about TH. But Pierre D'Exideuil's "The Human Pair in the Works of
TH" finished me. I couldn't continue any furthur. I was overwhelmed. All the
things which I wanted to write were already there.
After about thirty years I reread all his novels and short stories, and
heard unabridged readings of ten major novels, some short stories,
some abridged novels and some poems. All the works are more interesting and
fresh, so I feel maybe because of my experience or ageing in the interval
namely perhaps the difference between a young man of twenty and a young man
of sixty.
As for Laodicean, his interest in new technologies such as telegram or
modifying technique in photography intrigued my attention. No doublt if TH
is here, he must have deep interest in internet and PC.
And as for Two on a Tower, it was not a disappointment for me, although
thirty years ago it was a little such. This novel also attracts my attention
to his deep interest in astronomy. The scene of FFMC's chapter two in which
Gabriel feels or TH depicts the rotation of the earth also testify TH's deep
interest in astronomy. And also in Tess's chapter four the conversation
between Tess and Abraham shows it too. Would someone let me know about some
books or monographs which treat solely of his interest in modern technology
or science?
And also as for rather lesser discussed novels The Hand of Ethelberta, TH's
sense of humour is apparent in various parts but especially in Lord
Mountclere's deeds and sayings. I could not help but laugh many times. Would
someone let me know about some books or monographs which treat solely of
his sense of humour not only about The Hand of Ethelberta but also all
through his works?
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From: "Michael Barry" <michaelj.barry@talk21.com>
Subject: Re: ASSESSMENT OF A LAODICEAN
Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 00:42:21 +0100
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