H05060 INTERNAL DATING FROM FFMC 7/24/05 - HARDY FORUM ARCHIVES ____________________________________________________________________________
From: Charles.Anesi@wellsfargo.com
Subject: RE: Bathsheba
Date: July 24, 2005 2:29:29 PM PDT
From a legal view, it would be interesting to ask if FFMC is set before or after the M'Naughton case (1843) - it is set close to it, but I certainly don't know where -- and how the temporal setting in regard to M'Naughton affects the outcome of Boldwood's case at trial. (What murky rules may have applied in granting the petition for clemency is less interesting.)
Chuck Anesi
charles.anesi@wellsfargo.com
office 480-575-3478
cell 612-940-3345
fax 480-575-3519
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From: Rosemarie.morgan@yale.edu
Subject: RE: Bathsheba
Date: July 24, 2005 3:57:55 PM PDT
Hardy says FFMC is "contemporary" -- meaning the early 1870s. In line with that he sent drawings to his publisher to aid and assist the illustrator.
Hardy was a magistrate for more years than he was a novelist. He was keenly interested in legal matters and attended court hearings from the earliest days. His "Facts" Notebook records snippets from local papers and historical legal cases. He started on the Notebook the same year he became a magistrate.
The query about Boldwood's insanity (Smallbury to Oak) is a late addition. The original doesn't have it. In the MS Oak observes that Boldwood's "mind seems quite a wreck"-- this is changed later to a more doubtful comment
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From: Charles.Anesi@wellsfargo.com
Subject: RE: Bathsheba
Date: July 24, 2005 5:58:59 PM PDT
I was relying on various references to an 1840's setting including Ronald Blythe's introduction to the Penguin Classic's edition - "Further emphasis on the ancient quiet is maintained by Hardy setting his novel in the 1840's." Though I can't see anything specific that would place it there. Now that I think of it, Gabriel Oake's remark about emigrating to California would almost surely place it after the Mexican War, if Oake was sane when he made the remark. (There were only 11,000 non-Indians living in the entire area annexed by the U.S. from Mexico in 1848.) And Oake doesn't seem like a gold rush kind of guy, so yes, a considerably later date would be indicated. Though I assume Blythe had some reason for his statemen.
Does the "Facts" notebook mention M'Naughton or other cases involving an insanity defense?
Chuck Anesi
charles.anesi@wellsfargo.com
office 480-575-3478
cell 612-940-3345
fax 480-575-3519
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From: Rosemarie.morgan@yale.edu
Subject: RE: Internal dating of FFMC
Date: July 25, 2005 5:05:44 AM PDT
Perhaps Blythe was applying a loose, impressionistic view to his dating. Or perhaps he didn't have access to the manuscript, or perhaps he hadn't made a critical study of the serialisation. Who knows? Whichever way you look at it, he is wrong. Given life in the Metropolis in the 1870s FFMC wd seem Golden Age historical to many city dwellers but appearances are not all and modern scholarship should know better.
Not only does Hardy speak of FFMC as "contemporary" but he also wrote the instalments, month my month., to match the seasons of the real world. Hence his readers would be hay-making when Bathsheba and Oak work on the hay ricks in the summer storm, harvesting when harvest time takes place in the novel, birthing lambs when Bathsheba saves Oak from suffocation in the lambing hut, bee-hiving (June?) when Troy appears at her gate and adorns hiving gear to help our hardworking heroine hive the bees, and so on. The "match" is modified only in the last few chapters when TH had to accelerate (and the word is accelerate) an ending to the serial. And for those seeking a "Happy Ending" to the novel (which wd require making merely a superficial gloss of the allusion to the Songs of Solomon) it is worth noting that the marriage takes place on a gloomy winter's day and not in spring (renewal) -- as befits Poorgrass' inapt reference to Hosea.
Note also that when TH later wrote MC he snuck Boldwood in as a minor figure but as a youth -- the internal dating of this novel being around 1840. There are other details for the 1870s internal dating of FFMC but this should suffice.
As for Oak and emigration. This was to be British Columbia in the ms. Hardy evidently thought better of making Oak a fur-trader (slightly out of character?) and had him opt for the gold-rush instead. Don't forget that Oak had been coming on "quite the dand" towards the end of FFMC. He had also acquired shares in poor Boldwood's estate (getting himself a vested interest in the property) and was well on his way up the capitalist ladder. Hardy evidently saw California and money-making as appropriate. It wasn't a slip of the pen. It actually fits rather well with Oak's first appearances in the novel where much of his thinking (including his proposal to Bathsheba) runs along money-market lines.
Someone else will have to look up the references in the Notebook /I must get to work.
All best,
Rosemarie
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From: Charles.Anesi@wellsfargo.com
Subject: RE: Internal dating of FFMC
Date: July 25, 2005 11:25:44 PM PDT
Hardy should have sent him to BC. In 1870's California he would have been two decades late for the gold rush and walking into a serious depression.
The young Boldwood in MC is very good evidence for an 1870's date, however. Never thought of that.
Matching serial installments to the seasons is a charming touch, though not really evidence for a contemporary setting. Hollywood often matches television serials to the seasons, regardless of whether the setting is contemporary or historical (though by convention snow is only permissible at Christmas time).
Chuck Anesi
charles.anesi@wellsfargo.com
office 480-575-3478
cell 612-940-3345
fax 480-575-3519
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From: Rosemarie.morgan@yale.edu
Subject: RE: Internal dating of FFMC
Date: July 26, 2005 5:36:21 AM PDT
Hmm - interesting -- Would Hardy have known about the depression in 1873-4? Was it topical - or was it, like so many economic events, something that emerged over time? (BTW, TH read the *Saturday Review*) Yes -- the seasonal touch is charming (and not evidence, as you say) -- probably convenient for structuring your episodes when writing against the clock..
If you need other internal dating markers -- let's see. There Boldwood's farm which is modelled on Druce Farm built in 1867. Boldwood's house is described as 'cobwebbed' so evidently not intended to come across as a new house. So, anyway, we know that pre- 1867 is out.. But Hardy's comments in the *Life* are more conclusive when it comes to a more precise 1874 internal dating.
Hardy writes:
:'We find him on September 21, walking to Woodbury Hill Fair, approximately described in the novel as 'Green-Hill Fair'." "In reference to the illustrations I have sketched in my notebook during the last summer a few correct outlines of smockfrocks, gaiters, sheep-crooks, rick-staddles, a sheep-washing pool, one of those old-fashioned malt-houses, and some other out-of-the-way things that might have to be shown" (96,7).
And upon returning home, to Bockhampton,
'I have decided to finish it [FFMC] here, which is within a walk of the district in which the incidents are supposed to occur. I find it a great advantage to be actually among the people described at the time of describing them." (99).
I expect there is more if you want to do the sleuthing but this may suffice.
All best,
Rosemarie
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From: Jcphardysoc@aol.com
Subject: Re: Internal dating of FFMC
Date: July 26, 2005 10:09:03 AM PDT
In the description of Joseph Poorgrass collecting Fanny Robin' s coffin from Casterbridge Union workhouse (chap 46), Hardy adds in parenthesis '(We believe they do these things more tenderly now, and provide a plate)' thereby implying that the novel's action lies at least a little in the past. Later, in chap 55, the Circuit judge is described as travellling by road coach which hints at a pre-railway age setting; but this is inconsistent with Boldwood being a young man c 1850 in The Mayor.
The dating of the action of Hardy's novels is problematical: of the three real historical events mentioned in The Woodlanders, one (the American Civil War) is inconsistent with the other two - the divorce law and the opening of the railway to Sherborne (Sherton Abbbas).
Best wishes
John Pentney
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From: jacky@wilkibob.me.uk
Subject: RE: Internal dating of FFMC
Date: July 26, 2005 7:19:47 AM PDT
With reference to time and FFMC, I wonder, Rosemarie, if anyone has ever
tried to work out by using the religious or 'shepherd's calendar' if it is
possible to gain a precise date, or has Hardy taken precautions, as it were,
to avoid possible precise timing?
All the best,
Jacky
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From: Rosemarie.morgan@yale.edu
Subject: RE: Internal dating of FFMC
Date: July 26, 2005 7:57:35 AM PDT
I think the general consensus among scholars is that Hardy preferred to keep internal dating and setting as imprecise as possible. I believe the *Life* snippet about FFMC is unique. Later in his career he is far more wary about establishing precise dates.
I'm currently checking with Chuck about Oak's venture in CA (I hope this will not start up repeat postings here), and it may be that those of us having him opt for the gold rush might have to reconsider and have him opting for the post-gold-rush boom in industry and farming.
Cheers,
Rosemarie
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From: Rosemarie.morgan@yale.edu
Subject: Re: Internal dating of FFMC
Date: July 26, 2005 12:35:22 PM PDT
Circuit Judges --
I did some minimal-- clearly inadequate -- research (when producing the MS for publication) about Circuit Judges but didn't spend a lot of time on it. The only information I gleaned was that the Circuit Judges travelled with a sizeable retinue and all manner of paraphernalia (things like swords and mitres and "javelin men"-- were there attacks on judges, as there are nowadays?). The retinue also sported heralds to announce the grand presence (the trumpets of The Law resounded through town and country -- as did the bells of the Royal Mail coaches). This paraphernalia included a special carriage adorned with coats of arms and so on. Possibly this ritualistic (security?) aspect was retained (like wigs in courtrooms) beyond the age of the railway -- but it's a good question and I'd interested in hearing more.
As for the coffin plate instance that's a rare occasion of authorial intrusion, isn't it? Perhaps it's meant to deter the likes of us searching for internal dating. After all, if the novel were pinned to 1874 precisely scholars would be hunting for clues and Hardy, writing at such high speed, would have found the whole business quite perilous -- there'd probably far more errors than at present, to wit, giving two different names to old Everdene. There's also the consideration, given TH's sensitivity in this area, of repercussions from Dorchester locals protesting his barbaric workhouse. In which case the comment is a wise move.. "Problematical" the internal dating should remain.
What do others think?
Cheers,
Rosemarie
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From: Charles.Anesi@wellsfargo.com
Subject: RE: Internal dating of FFMC
Date: July 27, 2005 1:18:28 AM PDT
I think that Rosemary has made a convincing case for an approximately contemporary setting, and I am truly impressed by the analysis offered.
As for the reference in ch. 55 of FFMC to the coach, trumpeters, javelin-men, idlers, clowns, jugglers and dancing bears. While it might have been more likely for the judge to arrive by train, perhaps be had been visiting a friend in the remote countryside and arranged to meet the Sheriff and his merry men on the road, making his triumphal entry into Casterbridge from that point. This would be consistent with an 1870's date. Apparently when judges arrived by train they were treated to the same elaborate escort they received in the days when the sheriff met their coach at the county line. An account of such a procession meeting a judge arriving by train in 1859 is given at http://www.south-wales.police.uk/fe/master.asp?n1=8&n2=253&n3=666 . The procession included "Town police under the charge of Inspector Giffard; County Constabulary under the charge of Superintendent Thomas (Pontypridd); Superintendent Stockdale on horseback; Two trumpeters on horseback; Javelin-men on horseback; 180 gentlemen on horseback; The High Sheriff in his State Carriage; Aldermen and members of the Cardiff Town Council in carriages and with maces and other instruments of office; Carriages containing County magistrates; About 50 carriages containing principal tradesmen of the town."
As for Rosemary's question about attacks on judges, I don't know the frequency of such attacks, but the most celebrated example of the degeneracy of Law French deals with an assault on a judge. "Richardson, C. J. de C. B., at Assizes at Salisbury in summer 1631, fuit assault per prisoner la condemne pur felony; que puis son condemnation ject un brickbat a le dit justice que narrowly mist. Et pur ceo immediately fuit indictment drawn pur Noy envers le prisoner et son dexter manus ampute et fixe al gibbet sur que luy mesme immediatement hange in presence de court."
Chuck Anesi
charles.anesi@wellsfargo.com
office 480-575-3478
cell 612-940-3345
fax 480-575-3519
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From: Rosemarie.morgan@yale.edu
Subject: RE: Internal dating of FFMC
Date: July 27, 2005 2:28:07 AM PDT
This is hilarious! (and thanks for the good words, Chuck)
Cheers, Rosemarie
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From: Rosemarie.morgan@yale.edu
Subject: RE: Internal dating of FFMC
Date: July 27, 2005 2:46:43 AM PDT
Chuck -- Many thanks too for the wonderful "Police" site
http://www.south-wales.police.uk/fe/master.asp?n1=8&n2=253&n3=666 . Hardy is evidently "spot on" in his description. This (below) is a great image - when the constables had to take over from the javelin men in the late 1870s!
Many thanks to the South Wales Police Museum.
Cheers,
Rosemarie
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From: jacky@wilkibob.me.uk
Subject: RE: Internal dating of FFMC
Date: July 27, 2005 3:01:33 AM PDT
Your image of the sheriff and his merry men is hilarious, Chuck, particularly when one considers that the sheriff is, generally a retired military man, public school etc.
Jacky
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From: tomlessup@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Internal dating of FFMC
Date: July 27, 2005 5:14:31 AM PDT
Jacky wrote:
"......the sheriff is a retired military man, public school etc."
Not invariably. My grandfather served a term as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire between the wars. The son of a Yorkshire weaver, he was a bright lad who started work at 14, studied book-keeping in evening class and impressed his employers sufficiently for them to pay for him to qualify as a chartered accountant. He became the company troubleshooter and ended up marrying the boss's daughter and owning the company. He enjoyed the material gains of success but to his dying day was a totally down-to-earth, unsnobbish man. (And having had to witness two hangings in his official capacity, he was also bitterly opposed to capital punishment.)
Thos Lessup
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From: Rosemarie.morgan@yale.edu
Subject: Sheriffs
Date: July 27, 2005 5:48:34 AM PDT
From the readings I made on the South Wales Police Museum it sounds as if Sheriffs had a most unenviable job - not least in having to dig into their pockets to fund the Circuit Judge's retinue together with the expense of all those javelin men. Did your salt-of-the-earth grandfather ever hand down any stories about "the old days" (too late I suppose for the horse and carriage brigade -- although, having said that, my sisters and I in the 1950s went into the local Sussex town of Midhurst by horse and cart).
Cheers,
Rosemarie
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From: jacky@wilkibob.me.uk
Subject: RE: Internal dating of FFMC
Date: July 27, 2005 7:04:24 AM PDT
I just knew that as soon as I used the word 'invariably' someone would pop up and contradict it! it''s sod's law, isn't it? Of course, I could put all those sheriffs other than those from Lancashire and Yorkshire, couldn't I? But then, someone from Sussex or Devon - or Wessex - would pop up! I shall rephrase this and put: 'In my experience, many of the county sheriffs whom i have come into contact with or heard about by reputation, are etc. etc. . . .
it's like using the phrase; 'in this definitive work. . . ' when not all regarding the subject has yet been published and thus the work cannot be definitive - or so my tutor tells me!
Cheers - and apologies to sheriffs,
Jacky
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From: jacky@wilkibob.me.uk
Subject: sheriffs
Date: July 27, 2005 7:14:52 AM PDT
In actual fact I am having to eat my words all round here, for, indeed, our
High Sheriff of Lancashire was a footballer in his youth!
I enclose two links which give the history of the position of High Sheriff
in Lancashire, and an article about our present High Sheriff.
http://www.priory.lancs.ac.uk/duchy.html
http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/news/press_releases/2005/03/23/0001
asp
all the best,
Jacky
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From: jacky@wilkibob.me.uk
Subject: courts
Date: July 27, 2005 7:21:06 AM PDT
You may be further interested to know that in Lancaster Castle their is a firebrand containing the letter 'M'. When a person had committed a crime in the past, one of their punishments was to be branded on the soft part of the thumb with the letter M for malefactor. Thus, when appearing as a witness in court, one holds up one hand to take the oath, if the letter M was present on the thumb then the person was not eligible to be a witness.
Jacky
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