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The Ashgate Research Companion to

Rosemarie Morgan

The First 100 Years of Hardy Criticism: 1871–1971

Publication details https://www.routledgehandbooks.com/doi/10.4324/9781315613680.ch2 W. Eugene Davis Published online on: 28 Dec 2010

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The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The publisher shall not be liable for an loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 02:44 25 Sep 2021; For: 9781315613680, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315613680.ch2 Part One:1871–97  to thepurposeofidlepryingintoways ofwickedness’. atmospheric effects’; his powers and ‘ought to scenic be extended, to instead of ‘sensitiveness being prostituted a and life’ peasant of phases fixing and ‘catching for no ‘transcendent talent’. Then the tone shifts: this anonymous author shows a talent first very characters, ‘no display except the of the brute kind, no pictures of Christian of virtue’ and One novelist. uncommon of reviewers decidedly a was and he coincidence diction, of forced use clumsy ‘peasants’, philosophical implausibly morality, During this early period Hardy’s reviewers acknowledged that despite his dubious  soon again’. suggests nature, ardent prevarication and and duplicity’. The reviewer asks to ‘hear of Hardy loving soon, but not too her in which, timidity a with intention, and conduct of purity extremest the of union ‘subtle a exhibits Elfride and told’ than saddest or sweetest its to notes, and an artist’s tuned eye for every aspect of when nature’; characters are ‘revealed rather passion human with sympathy poet’s a feeling, of moods and characters of varieties of analysis subtle and delicate ‘a as well instinct’as moral true and humour sparkling and observation ‘quick reveals However, another reviewer disagrees: reviewer another However, 831–2. Davis, Eds, Davis, W.Eugene and Gerber E. Helmut on based are chapter this in citations and data The 2–, tm 8 ctn ‘Books: citing #8, item 20–1, I, G-D Thomas Hardy Association’s website: http://arts.st-andrews.ac.uk/ttha/ ‘Books: (hereafter I vol. 1973, Press, University Illinois Northern Hardy Criticism:1871–1971 Desperate  Desperate Remedies Desperate The First100Years of Thomas

Hardy : ’.

An W. EugeneDavis Spectator begins with its faults – that it contains no original no contains it that – faults its with begins Annotated , 44 (22 April 1871), 481–3. Also accessible at The at accessible Also 481–3. 1871), April (22 44 , Spectator Eyes’. Blue of Pair A

Bibliography Blue of Pair A of Writings , 9 ie #, citing #1, item 19, I), G-D  2 (PBE), About 4 (8 ue 1873), June (28 46 , Him for example, for . De Kalb, De . Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 02:44 25 Sep 2021; For: 9781315613680, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315613680.ch2 principals are not fully successful because they lack fullness of design. of fullness lack they because successful fully not are principals ideal novel, and while he shows ‘an original and admirable treatment of nature’ the than a less created has he setting ideal an of meet’; new and old the where setting Crowd at least, a fine poet’. fine a least, at and, on the other, his descriptions reveal ‘not only a striking novelist, but in essence ih oe u o ter id urudns ad lm ebih i ‘ typical ‘a is unhackneyed light’. Yeobright Clym and fresh a] [in and … shown … reformer surroundings’ ‘modern a figure’, tragic ‘a today’, wild of spirit their of hue some with touched all characters’‘are ‘higher Shakespeare’s the of ‘worthytouch’, rustics by populated is Egdon novels; contemporary other than range’ philosophical ‘more The   of one hand,Hardyconveys the On impossible. sense Aristotelian the in tragedy making thus fate, of puppets become who ‘peasants’, his of mouths the into diction, literary in thoughts, own his puts he worse, poor’; and common-place general in passion human ‘making by dreariness destiny’ mere human to of ‘significance he the of level the loweredand has life’ rustic of pictures ‘true than rather composites are characters his but vivid’degree highest the in and interest, and power singular of ‘story a for Hardy (MC), points turning major as out singling emphasis, of shift marked a note reviewers Some not? or writer great a reckoned be to Hardy was her [Eustacia] for a larger scale, he has modified her to suit a small[er] one’. Thus, one’. small[er] a suit to her modified has he scale, larger a for [Eustacia] her conceived having … imagination his of courage the all had not ‘has Hardy key’; original its from it] [transposing nature her into introduced is sense moral definite intention’; [authorial] the death of Mrs Yeobright definite is ‘morally stained’ more and near the end of a Eustacia’s ‘suggests life ‘a and spontaneous’ ‘less is it one; stronger a not is it predecessors its work’than serious more ‘a is it although but Hardy’sgenius’Mr. of development the in departure new a perhaps and phase, new a ‘presents ambivalent:it remained but point turning a as it see did reviewer write less spontaneously – illustrating a thesis rather than telling a good story. One  the of Return The In later reviews ambivalence gives place to a sharper polarization of opinion: of polarization sharper a to place gives ambivalence reviews later In of review Lang’s Andrew in occurs also Ambivalence , 29, item #48, citing R. H. Hutton, ‘Books: Hutton, H. R. citing #48, item 29, I, G-D G-D I,25,item#26,citing Andrew Lang,‘Literature’. 672–74. Club’. Contributors’ ‘The citing #45, item 29, I, G-D (8 Feb.1879),181–2.

Ashgate The WoodlandersThe governed byforces andtidesnolessinscrutable which in necessity, dark a of downs and ups the only life, human in depths great no heights, great no freedom, for room no be to seems there which in mood a (FFMC men : ad i tyn t etat hlspy rm ‘crossroad-of-time a from philosophy extract to trying is Hardy ):

Research play   By contrast, By the ) and, of course, of and, (W) parts ) were more sharply polarized. The polarized. sharply more were (RN)

Companion of mere The offspring praises Monthly Atlantic 40 Tess.

to

of Thomas I n the The Return of the Native the of Return The RN physical Academy, 7(2Jan.1875),9–10. Atlantic Monthly Atlantic , they said, Hardy seemed to seemed Hardy said, they ,

The Mayor of Casterbridge of Mayor The Hardy universe, a Fo te Madding the From Far for possessing a possessing for RN , 44 (Nov.1879), 44 , Spectator and Spectator ’.  Reviewers are lauds , 52

Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 02:44 25 Sep 2021; For: 9781315613680, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315613680.ch2 of thevacillating andrestlessoldtimber merchant,Melbury’. that is book the in study story’‘best his the of and part other any in than life rural genuine of pictures his in stronger usual ‘as is Hardy conveys’; it effect moral the to indifference an with ‘written is it success’; perfect with end the at crowned yet and levity, repentance, falsehood, infidelity, true shameless and no of by followed … in its grasp of character’ of grasp its in … natural’; more much very something but sense, literary a not apparently is people of Henchard’s sense of ‘first his troubles; anything more skilful or valuable in its way than the recognition and development’ been [admirably] delineated’. [admirably] been has nature wayward and ‘stalwart whose powerfulHenchard’, Michael more of a that than us study given not ‘has Hardy that admits he character’, purify and chasten to ‘circumstance than rather circumstance’ mould to ‘character using for characters’and and scenery ‘homely his to pessimism’inappropriate ‘fashionable lacks – he influences’ ‘fixity of mind, he ranfitful mostly to waste’. Althoughmost Hutton chides Hardy for using a the to subject yet is who passion, of depth and R. H. Hutton) was not a ‘man of character’ as Hardy claims butHardy’sof one (says Henchard ‘aand mankind, of vision reviewers,influential most man of large nature end ofhisdays. prove problematic, even if affronting his readers’ moral sense would be to the very    nprto’ n i ftr novels. future his in inspiration’ the paralyse [will] motive the of consciousness ‘the that danger a is there work’; for this reviewer, ‘imagination and intellect are fighting for mastery in Mr. Hardy’s 10  i ‘a-ece ad nlaat iie ad ptes ad otne t mk his make ‘peasants’ to sound like Greek philosophers; continues and epithets’ and similes unpleasant and ‘far-fetched his situation as well as a gifted storyteller and plot constructor, he still insists on using mid-career? subtitle, ‘A PureWoman’, thenturnedtothedarknatureoftale: to objected others, many like Morris, Mowbray matured. he as darker grew MC, As both As The 419–20. (5 June1886),752–3. G-D I, 38, item #96, citing H. M. Alden, ‘Editor’s Study-I’. G-D I, 39, item #100, citing R. H. Hutton, ‘Books: Oct. 1879),412–31. Hardy’sNovels’.‘Mr. citing #49, item 30, I, G-D 73 (Nov. 1886),961–2. 4, tm 14 ctn ‘Books: citing #114, item 41, I, G-D 711. Week’.the of ‘Novels citing #103, item 40, I, G-D Mr. manner, huh nt Wie ad i a en bevr f h human the of observer keen a is Hardy While not. thought Athenaeum huh poe polmtc o dfeet esn: hr ws itsdark was there reasons: different for problematic proved though,

Hardy Tess which has and especially and The told is not an

First extremely rendered  – nevertheless, is it the work of a great novelist in novelist great a of work the it is nevertheless, –  H. M. Alden agrees that Hardy ‘has neverM. ‘has achievedH. Hardy that agrees Alden

100 Jude  oee, prlss f nprto’ a nt to not was inspiration’ of ‘paralysis However, less disagreeable

Years seemed to seemed so h Woodlanders The 41 by  equally his s nt neir o n ohr story other any to inferior ‘not is MC

of story affectation

show, Hardy’s vision of humanity of show,Hardy’svision Hardy The Mayor of Casterbridge’. New Quarterly Magazine Quarterly New , No. 3057 (29 May 1886), May (29 3057 No. Athenaeum, gives ‘a picture in ’. an Harper’s Spectator

extremely of Criticism: expounding 10

New 6 (6 ac 1887), March (26 60 , disagreeable

Monthly

1871–1971 a , n.s. 2 (July, 2 n.s. , great Spectator Magazine Tess’s , 59 ,

Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 02:44 25 Sep 2021; For: 9781315613680, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315613680.ch2 t oig tog se ant oe i i a erbe td i ptooy bt f the of but pathology, in study splendid successoftheportrayal terrible therecouldnotbetwo opinions. a is it love; cannot she though loving, at play and life empty her dramatize to ready illusions, febrile of full instincts, her of perversion the of and herself of degenerate’ignorant maimed ‘poor, a admirable, is ‘missed by a hair’s-breadth’.a by ‘missed is daring in its treatment of conventional ideas, a novel both sad and tragic: happiness tale, the ‘peasants’of grimness the and s n aaoy ewe ter ra hnln o tai mtvs n ti clumsy this and motives tragic sordid taleofboorishbrutalityandlust’. of handling great their between analogy any is hehas moralizing, there that conceives he ‘if dramas much Elizabethan and Greek the forgotten or misread too attempts he departed, has humour early Hardy’s for a … lower kind of fidelity to the ignoble facts of life’; despite that, the novel the that, despite life’; of facts ignoble the to fidelity of lowerkind … a for debt to ‘French’ realism in ‘French’realism to debt greater thanthethingcreated’. truly a great work’ and gives the impression ‘of a creative personality in some ways The 16 15 14 13 12 11 ges i gaty bt nvls o Hrys itnto ms tet ht themes what the treat will; he must distinction Hardy’s of novelist a but ghastly, is agrees, the geometrical design of the relations between the four principals; the plot, Gosse second, and, lead to wasfated he life real the versus for wished Jude life ideal novel: the the in action of threads intertwining two traces Gosse Edmund however, is profitable to study the bad books of great writers one should study should one writers great of books bad the study to profitable is Dean Howells was anoutspokenHardyenthusiast: imaginings of a masochist or some other form of sexual pervert’. curious morbidly senility,the approaching suggesting of satyriasis ‘studied a is it Peck, Thurston Harry The American man of letters, novelist and editor of it if that suggests reviewer typical one Victorians: for difficult more was Jude of critiques balanced more Among 1896), 60–69. G-D I, 73, item #273, citing Edmund Gosse, ‘Mr. Hardy’s New Novel’. 1896), 427–9. G-D I, 77, item #291, citing Harry Thurston Peck, ‘A Novel of Lubricity’. 709–10. Week’.the of ‘Novels citing #252, item 69, I, G-D 5 (Feb.1892),200. Hardy’s ‘Mr. citing #184, item 55, I, G-D G-D I,55,item#183,citing‘Mr. Hardy’s NewNovel’. TheTimes (13Jan.1892),13. 174 (April1892),317–43. and ‘Culture Anarchy’. Morris, Mowbray citing #181, item 51, I, G-D

Ashgate affectation plungesthereader. moral law, or by the ridiculous character of some of the scenes into which this I His love people

even vita sexualis vita

Research the live faults very is ‘both a moral monstrosity and an outrage upon art’; upon outrage an and monstrosity moral a ‘both is Jude of Sue is the central interest of the book, her portrait is portrait her book, the of interest central the is Sue of close of : he has sacrificed ‘the higher truth of imagination of truth higher ‘the sacrificed has Tesshe :

Companion Hardy, 13 12 to A New YorkA New reviewer,Hardy’showever, laments the I will heart The TimesThe it judged 42 ad estv t te aaim f the of fatalism the to sensitive and Tess, 11 let

es f h d’Urbervilles the of Tess of to him nature,

Thomas play , No. 3552 (23 Nov.(23 1895), 3552 No. Athenaeum, and me The Atlantic Monthly

any Hardy no

Hardy’snovel,greatest one, trick eiw f Reviews, of Review ’. 15 As early as 1896, unless 16 he Cosmopolis Quarterly Review, Quarterly Bookman chooses. it Jude. William is , 2 (Jan. , I (Jan. 14 For

‘is

Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 02:44 25 Sep 2021; For: 9781315613680, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315613680.ch2 20 19 18 17 Hardy several novels, strikesthereaderas‘hauntinganddisenchanting’. [in argument ‘impressive his render men’ in conscience like anything of denial ‘apparent the as such novels, the in faults, that albeit – sincere ardently always is tastes, popular courts never Hardy lives. their principals are ‘at variance with the fundamental principles and crowning issues’ of ‘racily and richly’ they are clearly in harmony with their surroundings, whereas the ideas; fatalistic their display they immobility mental certain a despite – soil the of growths natural are who characters of variety a and life), city by affected barely both are who rustics naturally ignorant and shrewdly passiveness,humorous (Shakespearean and fatalistic, they are wise a of capable heroes are atmosphere this but tragic,foritisforever ‘unsatisfied’. wrong, not is which passion of nature destructive the perhaps is theme persistent fashionable the from most doesn’tnovel,his Hardy the creates; in simply tendency he moralistic aloof argue; Remaining life. of never transcripts than more are them make which characterizations to unusual or Hardy’sabstract the of enough in possess but realistic completely,exclusively notably ideas, poetic basically commentary’and supporting ‘illustration as serve form and quality pictorial both drama; tragic of form five-act the of unity structural the towards moving fiction past the for concern its with people’ its and ‘Wessex, theme, great one his and description of accuracy expression, of economy thought, and emotion of subtleties modern with Hardy’sconcern praises detail, of richness Johnson 1900. before published were Hardy on books full-length few Macdonell, challenges certainbeliefsandcustoms,suchquestioningishealthy it while condition; human the to true are they events, the howeverunpleasant but pitiable; is Sue as fool a such even and dignified, always is Jude of character the Fate; only Providence, no is there worldwhere pre-Christian Macdonell, in turn, stresses the structural integrity of the novels, the mature the novels, the of integrity structural the stresses turn, in Macdonell, Annie and Johnson Lionel by studies noteworthy of exception the With 6, tm 23 ctn Ane Macdonell, Annie citing #223, item 64, I, G-D 1894/1895. Lane John by Bibliography a and Strang William by Life from Etched 6, tm 29 ctn Loe Johnson, Lionel citing #219, item 63, I, G-D 1895, 182–publishedthesameyear asJude. G-D I,68,item#242,citing‘Lifeand Letters’. Howells, Dean William citing #243, item 68, I, G-D Stoughton, 1894. nature. human with unity her of sense sweeter and richer a Tourguenief,you gives eun t te re md o taey lnig h peet ih the with present the linking tragedy, of mode Greek the to returns 17 The

First

100

Years 20 43

of

Harper’s The ] … sterile’: his determinism, in determinism, his sterile’: Tess… ]

Hardy

Art Thomas y ieay Passions. Literary My

Weekly, 39(7Dec.1895),1156. of Thomas

and Criticism: Hardy rsn. mesd in Immersed present. may be morbid, be may Jude Lno, odr & Hodder London, . Hardy: . London, John Lane, John London, . 19 . 18

With 1871–1971 e York, New a Portrait

Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 02:44 25 Sep 2021; For: 9781315613680, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315613680.ch2 ‘F.calls Y.example, for E’, 25 24 (PPP) ad’ aheeet a a oeit em o ae opiae contemporary complicated have to of and poems seem his of assessments novelist a as achievements Hardy’s Part Two: 1898–1928 The 22 21 23 and a wild, eerie, melancholy timbre and ring all of his own’ but he is ‘barely a ‘barely is he poet’. but own’ his of all ring and timbre melancholy eerie, wild, a and rhythm haunting ‘a has verse his it’; in easily move not does He medium. proper bite with the fatal intent of an anonymous reviewer who calls who reviewer anonymous an of intent fatal the with bite to cared few but – vision his of sombreness the and ear ‘unmusical’words, dead ‘drives at practice’ (like Marcus Aurelius) and never dallies over a wayside charm. invincible’. while Browning himself might be proud of ‘The Burghers’ and ‘My Cicely’, Hardy and and poems, radiant fifty of volume the the sweetens and softens joy,though, Impercipient’, ‘The never ‘but in tenderness, vision grimness, Hardy’s wistfulness, of clarity hard the toughness, uncompromising the glimpsed many,Johnson of Typical unique. it made which ‘a thousandfold more distant from humanity than the Fate of other poets’; ‘peasant’ show behind which moves puppet the … Immanent of Will’, kind ruthless and incomprehensible’, a as world the shook which ‘events shows it stage; the not study the novelist; displaced a of his conversion fromprosetoverse. necessitated expression’ of Hardy’s‘intensity that intuits poetry.she Perceptively the in fact’somnipresent tyranny’of is grip the in life for tenderness ‘wistful and Hardy’sthat notices Macdonell manner like In fact’hard of grip ‘uncompromising he is not quite a poet’. say,to is that poetical; ‘is he them’; of independently quite chosen form a to them rest ofthebook. Hardy’sGlass’veritablemy a into is look ‘I indicate and strength, mature Architect’ and ‘Heiress and Tones’ ‘Neutral nuggets: are there But burnt. have should Hardy which of bulk the wrought’, worse and conceived poorly sentiment, in stilted verses, uncouth … ‘slovenly of volume’full slipshod Like Hardy’sLike poems, volumesof early of resurrection Hardy’scoinages, – odd about complain to much found Critics ‘tang’ the verse, Hardy’s of personality the by impressed were critics Other 19. Poet’. as Hardy ‘Thomas citing #353, item 90, I, G-D 15 (Feb.1899),139–41. G-D I, 89, item #346, citing Annie Macdonell, ‘Thomas Hardy’s Wessex Poems’.822–3. G-D I, 88, item #340, citing Spectator Hardy’sThomas ‘Books: citing #390, item 97, I, G-D 342–3. G-D I, 93, item #370, citing F. Y. E., ‘Afterthoughts in Verse’.

Ashgate 22 ‘in great part, translated prose’; Hardy does ‘violence to his ideas in adjusting , 88(5 April 1902),516–17.

25 Research 21 Similarly, a reviewer of Wessex Poems Wessex

Spectator

Lionel Johnson,‘Mr. Hardy’s Poems’. Companion – Dynasts The 24 sees it is a drama of epic proportions, for the for proportions, epic of drama a is it sees 44 (WP) The Dynasts The

to

and Thomas PPP he be regarded a true poet? true a regarded be he could Poems of the Past and the Present the and Past the of Poems observes that ‘poetry is not his Poems of the Past and the Present the and Past the of Poems , 87 (7 Jan. 1899), Jan. (7 87 Review, Saturday P – WP was often taken as the the work as taken wasoften

that will outlive the outlive will that poem Hardy Speaker, n.s. 5 (21 Dec. 1901), h psin humour, passion, the Outlook WP , 3 (28 Jan. 1899), ‘a curious and curious ‘a Bookman 23 ’. ,

Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 02:44 25 Sep 2021; For: 9781315613680, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315613680.ch2 spirits never speak ‘without expressing a banal thought in the worst verse’; it is ‘The work it of a poet’verse’; but worstit is ‘rarely poetry’. the in thought banal shadows’; a ‘brooding expressing ‘without only speak are never spirits men great but itself’ life as real ‘as are characters 27 26 31 30 n ‘h tme h wie i i eaty ht hc cud ln gv credibility, give alone could which that artistic justice,andanaturalappealtothepointofview heisexpressing’. exactly is in writes he temper ‘the and to his point of view; his ‘language is appropriate’ (considering his disillusionment) however,praise, merits he them’; about serious be to hypocrisy is fidelity it his for that realized seldom so are ideals that and there, found be to mainly is what not is life and human ideals’, yet a poet of Hardy’s calibre reveals ‘that an abiding beauty the he uses verse ‘like a master’. master of the ballad’; his subjects are grimly pessimistic but it is ‘wonderful poetry’; of poetic form is praised – the – praised is form poetic of mastery Hardy’sgrowing 1912–1913’. of ‘Poems the of discussion insightful no is such and terms as ‘ironic’, reveal),‘satire’, ‘gloom’, ‘bitter’ andreviews ‘tragic’the prevail but, surprisingly,slant the there explain may (which war at was England shorter his assessing poems. to powers, poetic considerable Hardy’s of understanding than through themediumofrhymeandmeter’. prose of medium the through firmly and surely ‘more itself reveals poetry pattern it this makes in figures historical great of inclusion the are although men ‘electrons’ characters’; mere the to denied is will free which in fiction dramatic of work modern ‘first the uniqueness: its see was to Beerbohm first Max the merits. among whose lives aremeaningless. characters with sympathizing from us prevent who Intelligences Phantom the are characters have no seventy-oddpersonality nor do other they suffer orthe develop; mostrustics); damning to dramaticfour effect (the qualities human has it when of prose narrative and poetry, here chooses a dramatic form which is readable only a philosophy of fatalism and acceptance. the broadside ballad, show a Greek simplicity, freedom from useless ornament, and of tone and 29 28 When of III Volume After own its on judged be to time in Hardy’scame like poems, Dynasts, shorter The , poetry aims at expressing the beauty of nature in terms of ‘human of terms in nature of beauty the expressing at aims poetry Athenaeum, G-D I,108,item#448,citing‘Mr. ThomasHardy’s Drama’.TLS(15Jan.1904),11–12. 293–4. Hardy’sMr.Drama’. ‘Books: citing #435, item 105, I, G-D 155. G-D I,131,item#560,citing‘Literature’. Athenaeum,No.4289(8Jan.1910),34–5. l910), 639–43. G-D I, 131, item #559, citing M. Hewlett, , 131, item #551, citing ‘Books: Mr. Hardy’sMr.Poems’. ‘Books: citing #551, item 131, I, G-D Review, 97(30Jan.1904),136–8. G-D I, 105, item #433, citing Max Beerbohm, ‘Thomas Hardy as a Panoramatist’. s Laughingstocks Time’s ‘a noble achievement’; Hardy had to ‘wrestle for his effects’ because his effects’ because his for ‘wrestle to had Hardy achievement’; noble ‘a aie o Crusac, yis n Reveries and Lyrics Circumstance, of Satires catch the essence of Wessex; the poems, whose ultimate ancestor is Wessex;ancestor of ultimate essence whose the poems, catch the TL The

The First 29 Dynasts 27 In similar vein, M. Hewlett observes that the rhythm ) is a pleasant surprise; Hardy proves himself ‘a himself proves Hardy surprise; pleasant a is (TL)

likens him to Meredith in his reaction against reaction his in Meredith to him likens TLS 100

Years perd ciis eund wt a a better far a with returned, critics appeared, ‘Time’s Laughingstocks’. English Review 45 30 Yet an old complaint surfaces again. For 28 26

The of

Hardy TLS queries why Hardy, a master (SC)

Criticism: Spectator Spectator a pbihd n 1914 in published was , 104 (29 Jan. 1910), Jan. (29 104 , , 92 (20 Feb. 1904), Feb. (20 92 ,

1871–1971 31 , 4 (March Saturday

Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 02:44 25 Sep 2021; For: 9781315613680, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315613680.ch2 may be permitted to think – at the shudder of his readers’. the poet as he fashions some very bitter and deadly stanzas, smiling genially – so we in joy unholy certain a of imagining the from comes relief own ‘our concentration; extraordinary his to due is which of success the moods’, of presentation vivid the however, does not detract from his qualities as a poet: ‘Mr. Hardy is concerned with its avoidance of melodrama and its adherence to what is true of human nature. human of true is what to adherenceits andmelodrama ofavoidance its heroic character of Tess for the novels is justified, citing justified, is novels the for his backtothefuture,immersedintragicretrospect’. unattainable in prose’; he is ‘not a singer, or a consoler, or a prophet; he stands with concentration and force a with means he ‘what say does distinction’he is in lacking style his and clumsy and halting often is Hardy’s‘technique although life’; of of tone elegiac’ and 1912–1913’) of ‘Poems the by untouched apparently t a b i vain. in be may it or morose or beauty’; crabbed even in his seems bitterest disappointment it Hardy seems to when have faith, eventantalizing, even is though still thoroughly verse, poetic in form’; ‘his though despondent it has poetry’; ‘unexpected ‘over-poetical The 35 34 33 32 36 Hardy continues ‘his preoccupation ‘his continues Hardy elc o te om ad eciig ht ht mvs h pe t a id of kind a to poet the ‘moves what that cheerfulness perceiving … [is a] triumphant indulgence in sexual and desire’, poems the of general neglect a noting Cunliffe, John novels. his in interest of spread the ironically,to 37 o sra publication, serial for Hardy’sdocuments Chase Ellen Mary of bowdlerization careful Hardy’sachievement.greatest and strength of personality, novels offailed the pathos of her intensea string suffering ultimately makes after Hardy showed ideal; partial recovery in dramatic a the to determines adherence failures, by and largely former successes into novels the dividing Beach, Warren nobly planned, and,onthewhole,masterfullyexecuted’. feeling, deep from springing art, of work notable ‘a produces divine’ and human injustice, at indignation passionate author’s ‘the novel: greatest Hardy’s ad’ sedl goig eon n h teteh etr ws agl due, largely was century twentieth the in renown growing steadily Hardy’s Some notable critical works appear in the last decade of Hardy’s life: Joseph life: Hardy’s of decade last the in appear works critical notable Some Minneapolis, University ofMinnesotaPress,1927. Last G-D I, 181, item #759, citing John Cunliffe, ‘Thomas Hardy’. 19–21. G-D I, 162, item #683, citing ‘Books: Mr. Hardy’s Later Poems’. 1914), 476–7. Joy’. Hardy’sUnholy Thomas ‘Mr. citing #670, item 159, I, G-D G-D I,159,item#669,citing‘Mr. Hardy’s NewPoems’. TLS(19Nov. 1914),514. 20 ie #5, iig oeh arn Beach, Warren Joseph citing #858, item 200, I, G-D 26 ie #11 ctn Mr Eln Chase, Ellen Mary citing #1141, item 266, I, G-D Chicago, University ofChicagoPress,1922.

Ashgate

Half Century.NewYork, Macmillan,1919, 40–58.

Research 32 The hc dsly te scns rte ta te soundness the than rather ‘sickness the displays which SC 37 ; it is, though, outstanding in its ‘pitiless search for the truth’, hl Vrii Wof ecie hm s n ‘unconscious an as him describes Woolf Virginia while lo aacs oiie n ngtv qualities: negative and positive balances also Academy

Companion Jude RN MC and is nearly as great but hasn’t the beauty or the or beauty hasn’tthe but great as nearly is and ih h gom n sordid and gloomy the with 46 MC

W and since Tess is a character of beauty to

as major achievements and achievements major as Thomas Thomas

34 acknowledges the ‘autumnal the acknowledges The

Hardy T 33 Hardy: English Literature During the echnique Another reviewer (also Spectator 35 feels the preference , 87 (28 Nov.(28 87 Academy,

(y tlc) this, italics); (my ’ from MC, of 94 (2 Jan. 1915), Serial Thomas Tess and to as Tess Hardy Novel Jude Tess 36 . .

Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 02:44 25 Sep 2021; For: 9781315613680, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315613680.ch2 poems are of lasting value psychological and Hardy’sphilosophical achievements. major are they opinions; Tess vigour of the earth, demonstrating that Wessex life is capable of tragic possibilities; 42 40 41 a ‘characteristicpoemofourage’ ofthevery highestorder. Hardy asapessimist. happening isa‘catastrophe’ ‘suddenly and overwhelmingly’; love with fate’; ‘conflict through suffer men others on dependence through suffer womenHardy’s while elements’; the of force the ‘attract and novel each dominate characters four or three writes; he book every in writer’ whose ‘’ create ‘passages of astonishing beauty and force’ 39 38 and social problems in a bold and individual manner. and critic Anna Brunnemann, in 1904, praises him for asserting his individuality in other demands oflife’. the to desire subordinate who … group middle ‘honest an intellectualists, rigid or sensualists either are men whereas self-control, lacking and sweet never common ideas’; and towards passionate, bitter portrayed fickle, generally are as is who Hardy women, interests on common based affection of bond permanent a of hope some it with carrying attraction, sexual a passion, ‘physical as love about butthe realistic is yet divorce advocates toprecision’, he Victorian: but anything is fiction grace his of and tenor elegance sacrifice to ‘willing is he stylistically, exclude an occasional ‘decided not gleam does of hope’ this in but hispessimist, work. a called is suffering’, essentially‘is life that contends lifeis governed by an unconscious, indifferent Will. Hardy, like Schopenhauer, who Dynasts the Immanent Will, a force which controls reason while remaining unconscious. The by governedpurpose,without done everythingis whichclockwork’ automaticin immense‘an universe asthe of view a Schopenhauerfatalism,toandsubscribe to Hardy’s of both studies that philosophical out Hardy serious pointing first art, the novels:in the on mainly focuses but Ernest Brennecke, Jr. would have agreed: have wouldJr. Brennecke, Ernest On the Continent, interest centred on acclaiming Hardy’s skill as novelist: German Regarding fictional Hardy’swith deals Lascelles Abercrombie studies corpus longer entire Among , citing him as one of the few contemporary English writers to treat moral treat to writers English contemporary few the of one as him citing Jude, 5 (15 April 1904),81–4. G-D I, 106, item #437, citing Anna Brunnemann, ‘Thomas Hardy’. Alfred A. Knopf,1921; rev. edn1928. G-D I, 221, item #955, citing Ernest Brennecke, Jr., London, MartinSecker, 1912. Poet’s Mind.London,T. Fisher Unwin,1924. G-D I, 197, item #841, citing Samuel C. Chew, , 141, item #589, citing Lascelles Abercrombie, Lascelles citing #589, item 141, I, G-D 1928), 33–4. Novels’.Hardy’s ‘Thomas Woolf, Virginia citing #1440, item 327 I, G-D and andWessex novels confirm this: although man possesses consciousness, his Jude are novels of ‘epic form’ which allow Hardy to weave in his own his in weave to Hardy allow which form’ ‘epic of novels are 41 The 38 technique Samuel C. Chew classes Hardy as a late Victorian:

First 39 but

100 The Jude Dynasts is a great summation of the novels and

Years FFMC is the only novel which could fairly condemn 47 ,

and RN of Thomas The

Hardy Thomas Life

MC Hardy

42 Thomas of French critic Henry Davray

Thomas Hardy’s Criticism: the characters possess the possess characters the 40 , Poet

Hardy: &

Universe Aus Fremden Zungen, was among was Hardy Novelist. New York,

A

1871–1971 Critical : A Study of a (19 Jan. (19 TLS Study. Tess Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 02:44 25 Sep 2021; For: 9781315613680, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315613680.ch2 sublimity without ever having passed through the stage of being good’. being of stage the through passed having ever without sublimity desisted because of the work’s incomplete state; reviewer of 48 50 49 egh tde o Hry n hs eid r msl dsettos Frt s Richard is First dissertations. Taufkirch with mostly are period this in Hardy of studies length Hall Caine’s, they will long outlive the latter. observes that while Hardy’s books may still be less popular than Marie Corelli’s or The 46 45 44 43 hisautobiography bywriting his privacy safeguard to attempts Hardy’s Part Three:1929–39 is fullyaware ofthedarksidehuman existence. biases own their while neglecting expressing the ‘artistic laws of the by novels’; Hardy is no pessimist injustice although he an Hardy done have critics that claims pcal, neivbe yt t h sm tm ‘real’. time same the at yet unbelievable’ spectacle, fantastic a contemplates he whence heights dizzying to spirit the sweeps sentence 47 exploration oflove relationshipsinthenovels. Hardy’s post- and insightful. Schopenhauer) d’Exideuil’sHardy’sfor of and base study (chiefly critical important an provides – Darwinism philosophy sensitive German is in roots Hardy) its Thomas – pessimism of Works the in Couple of reality’; none of his characters is great or noble; his heroines are sensual and sensual are heroines his noble; or great is characters his of none reality’; of intellectual beings through whose imaginary experiences he attempted an estimate and moral limited of company a ‘with Bryan,content Ingram remains John Hardy oiie vlain o hs oes wees od ao Fr sus ad for Hardy slurs Ford Madox to Ford swelling insignificant lead ‘novels whereas of commerce’, novels: necessarily his not of evaluations did positive name) Hardy’s Florence (under pseudonymously Pierre d’Exideuil’sPierre Trans. Felix W. Crosse,London, HumphreyToulmin, 1930. Florence G-D I to theDeathofJosephConrad.Manchester, CarcanetPress, 1929,118. G-D I, 332, item #1458, citing Ford Madox Ford, 1928; The Taufkirch,Richard citing #630, item 150–51, I, G-D (15 April 1906),611–12. Anglaises’. Davray,‘Lettres Henry citing #473, item 114, I, G-D (April 1904),263–4. 50 France, de Mercure Anglaises’. Davray,‘Lettres Henry citing #438, item 106, I, G-D (April 1903),264–5. 46 France, de Mercure Anglaises’. Davray,‘Lettres Henry citing #419, item 103, I, G-D Frankfurt/Main, Knauer, 1912. , 288–9, item #1237, citing Pierre d’Exideuil, Pierre citing #1237, item 288–9, I, G-D Hardy:

Ashgate , 382, item #1682, citing T. S. Eliot, An The Dynasts: at first reading he was tempted to ‘mock and condemn’ but

Emily Later Years ofThomasHardy, 1892–1928.London,Macmillan,1930. Essay Die

Research Hardy, Romankunst on Le the Couple Sexual The

Companion Early

von Problem humain Life Thomas of A as dans ft 48 Thomas er Treated

49 Strange to Hardy 43 T. S. Eliot claims that his style ‘touches l’oeuvre Davray was perhaps the first French

47 Thomas 44 Hardy, The English Novel: From the Earliest Days in two years later ‘Each … evocative The (Hardy’swho Novel), the of Art

Gods 46 the Die

de 45 Human 1840–1891 Wessex

rnh n Gra book- German and French . London, Faber and Faber, 1934. Romankunst Thomas

Hardy

Pair Novels, . London, Macmillan, London, . Hardy , 60 France, de Mercure in

von the Tales, (The Human (The Work Thomas 50 and And for And of Thomas Hardy Poems 48 . .

Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 02:44 25 Sep 2021; For: 9781315613680, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315613680.ch2 ove to rude almost seems it which 1912–13,” of “Poems superb ‘the informs also that in verse’; wasHardy that yetelse, anything as than poet a as ‘greater exclusivelynot his [in] 53 54 integrity oftheuniverse.’ the of distrust goal: one but is there poetry and fiction of school Hardy Tothe … real poetry, because it has no joyous or singing quality, not ‘is novels, nor the the buoyancy of of philosophy true pessimistic life same the reflecting verse, his stupid; 52 51 the and detail the both larger patternsoflife. to attention keen and temperament his of range full the ‘Neutral Tones’ and ‘During Wind and Rain’. and Wind ‘During Tones’and ‘Neutral BrokenAppointment’, ‘A ‘TheSelf-Unseeing’, Voice’, ‘The a Journey’, best ‘After his are among awkwardness’; ‘innocent his transformed powerful that of urgings is, personal that character’, ‘pre-critical of of ‘triumph poet a naive are andin poems a great is whose innocence’ Hardy ofhisrecognition response: his of adequacy thecompleteness and purity in the values, human to indifferent is nature that science) by believed, he (enforced, conclusion the accepted he which with integrity the in lay greatness his that notice did Leavis R. appear 1940, F. after until not did diversity poetic his of plenitude the of studies Although period. society’sof machine –safe,predictable,imprisoning. activity the is which work for not freedom, for made is Man ensues. ‘vastthe by morality’abide not do Jude wanttragedy they thus what and take but is , the instinctive life, the ‘deep black source’; Eustacia, Tess, Sue and system Tolstoy’slike it; society’sby punished are they characters, mechanical hierarchical, from escape would Clym self-realization, seeks example, for Eustacia, itself’, life the complex intellectualism of Hardy’s characters; opposed to the ‘vast morality of the first to recognize the fierce dichotomies between the simple instinctual life and In the main, Hardy’s poetry fared better than his novels during this posthumous perhaps – Lawrence H. D. is fiction Hardy’s of defenders early among Chief hear’; simultaneously, the novels display the poetic cast of his mind, showing mind, his simultaneously,of cast poetic the novelsrhear’; display the G-D I, 355, item #1564, citing Arthur McDowall, Contemporary Situation F.citing Leavis, #1605, R. item 364, I, G-D 1936. , 405–6, item #1797, citing D. H. Lawrence, ‘Study of Thomas Hardy’. Thomas The of ‘Study Lawrence, H. D. citing #1797, item 405–6, I, G-D Tokyo, Marusen,1930,256–8,307. Bryan, Ingram John citing #1499, item 340, I, G-D Faber andFaber, 1931. rather than by Fate as in Shakespeare or Sophocles; the real stuff of tragedy

Posthumous The Dynasts The

Papers The his unswerving devotion to truth is mixed with an intimacy an with mixed is truth to devotionunswerving his 54

of First . London,Chatto& Windus, 1932,56–62. 51 D. H.

Lawrence 100

Years . Ed. Edward D. McDonald, London, Heinemann, 49 52 New Bearings in English Poetry: A Study of the of Study A Poetry: English in Bearings New

of 53

Thomas In turn, Arthur McDowall argues McDowall Arthur turn, In Hardy The Philosophy of English Literature English of Philosophy The

Hardy

Criticism: : A Critical Study. London,

1871–1971 Phoenix: . Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 02:44 25 Sep 2021; For: 9781315613680, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315613680.ch2 58 57 56 realistic but romantic or imaginative; while his while imaginative; or romantic but realistic narrowly not is truth of brand his apply; not do simply (TruthPoetry) and fiction and old fact Hardy; of in categories exist Aristotelian does unity that critics) many works tohischildhoodstudiesandexperiences. Hardy’sin sadness of note predominant the tracing suit, followed Hardy Evelyn 59 Ransom, did much to revivify interest in Hardy.in interest revivify to much did Ransom, R. P.Barzun, Jacques Blackmur, Auden, Bonamy H. W.Dobree, as F.notables R. such Leavis, by Katherine essays, Anne provocative PorterFourteen and John Crowe The Part Four:1940–71 The 55 published who extensively Weber, J. on Hardy Carl – well by over 1942 a dozen and works in 1940 two in decades. filled were (un-annotated) bibliography his work always memorable, occasionally sublime. occasionally memorable, alwayswork his concerned with the phrase, sentence, paragraph, but with overall effect; this makes of tragedy that Hardy edifies by raising serious questions; his characters moreover ‘suffer the by degreesandconstitutetogetherthesumtotalofmind-measuredreality’). which will leave Science or Ignorance master of the field: they merge into each other effect they causeless, tragedy; he treats although truth poetically (‘Truthbecause, and eventsPoetry do not the fight a Manicheanto fight object we true; are people In 1965PhilipLarkinpostedastrikingnotice:‘Wanted: GoodHardyCritic’. Two major gaps in Hardy studies, a magisterial biography and a major secondary (Hereafter and Biography. London,HogarthPress,1954; repr. NewYork, Russell &Russell,1970. See Hardy’. Thomas in Southern ReviewCentennialEdition. Poetry and ‘Truth Barzun, Jacques citing #1946, item 437, I, G-D G-D I,447,item#1994,citingSouthernReviewCentennialEdition. (citing SouthernReview,ThomasHardyCentennialEdition). Years Thomas College Library, 1942. Columbia University Press, 1940; rev. edn 1965 and Carl Jefferson Weber, , 450–51, item #2008, citing #2008, item 450–51, I, G-D

oten Review Southern Ashgate the … by critics in this century. [Aside from the] British Academy reservation … acknowledged his power [yet he seems to be held in] comparatively low esteem the Hardy’s has beenotherthanneglectful. Blackmur,Empson, Wilson,patronizing, Leavis Trillinghostile, was none – Carl Jefferson Weber, Jefferson Carl D Kl, oten lios nvriy rs, 1983. Press, University Illinois Northern Kalb, De 1871–1969. for Supplement of century’s principal , Eliot’sbeing, by

Hardy: Hardy, , 4, tm 23 ctn Eey Hardy, Evelyn citing #243, item 545, II), G-D reputation

Research

1840–1940: An

principal post-Eliot Annotated eoe te hl o is umr 90 su t Hardy. to issue 1940 Summer its of whole the devoted has ’ (my italics); in style, Hardy is not consciously not is Hardy being’style, not in italics); (my

critics A Companion Hardy

poets not Centenary Bibliography have

taken Thomas of (Auden, Wessex:

really Bibliography 50 the of Hardy

to Writings Betjeman, shown accustomed His

Thomas . Centennial Edition 6 (Summer, 1940) (Summer, 6 Edition Centennial . events 59 55 Porter rebutted Eliot by arguing by Porter Eliot rebutted Life of 56 little About Barzun shows (in defiance of defiance (in shows Barzun , Waterville, ME, Colby Waterville,ME, Hardiana, and sometimes seem unreal, his unreal, seem sometimes Dylan interest

posthumous Hardy Literary Him Thomas , Volume II 1970–1978, VolumeII , Thomas) in Nw York, New Career.

Hardy him. dip First Eliot have Critical A : 58 …

In 1954 Hundr 57 ed

Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 02:44 25 Sep 2021; For: 9781315613680, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315613680.ch2 oksne, otli, eee oet ad n blt t rne pinnl the poignantly render to ability an ‘presentness’ ofthemoment. and honesty severe nostalgia, folk-singer, ballad, of endowments the personality’ but ‘poetic his only not reveals loss’, utter themselves‘extend (which Hardy’smind’) the in of desolation ‘the theme, deepest additionally, Hardy’s verse is ‘the harvest peasantry’; of ‘the of defeat the the and former the in novels’: decline drastic a life’traced of in and deceptively simple poems W, MC and 63 ulte ta dsubd le ciis Hry rqety aee fo hs initial his from wavered frequently Hardy critics. older disturbed that by qualities attracted now are readers world; the of vision a sensation, emphasizes novel twentieth-century The elements. demonic and macabre grotesque, the abjuring – novel the for standards different holding generation a to belong critics his of most of tales, a great poet who practised fiction waywardly; he needs revaluation because of agreement with Cecil: Hardy is not primarily a craftsman but a traditional teller – importantaspectsofhisart. mythically; his fiction ‘is abundant in powerful archetypal situations and symbols’ experience view to tendency his accelerated inquisitiveness philosophic his with in scene creating in skill sword-display sexually-suggestive his the power,connotativenotably great of scenes stimulating while this enforcing pressure public sexuality, 61 60 a handful of good poems 62 with the strange and grotesque. and strange the with individual an imagination made displaying powerful story, always by being a true be to nature, to by being story poetic, a and by liked dealing he Scott, Walter advanced, like intellectually was Hardy yet – past’the chance of wasman and ‘a He aspect. aesthetic the for us prepare not does which and love of form the in Fate machine’, a view of man as helpless in the face of circumstances, struggling against – the gloomy view of the world, a conception of the universe as ‘a huge impersonal than did Hardy’s poetry. David Cecil stresses contradictory tendencies in the fiction Carpenter is on the poems, where he falls into the ‘Leavis Fallacy’: fivethe in that argued had Brown Douglas study earlier novels great – an In ears. deaf on fall not did Larkin’scall that indicate fatalism, and pessimism ‘extended considerationofthecentralitysufferinginHardy’s work’. The Wessex novels continued to arouse more critical acclaim and popular interest The weakest section of an otherwise balanced and insightful study by Richard C. tragedy,as themes such on focus their with decade, last this of critics Hardy What is missing, Larkin believes (echoing Evelyn Hardy’s notion of ‘sadness’) is London, Constable,1943;repr. 1946,1954,1963;rev. edn1969. 41 ie #10 ctn Dvd Cecil, David citing #2110, item 471, I, G-D 1964; repr. London,Macmillan,1976. 68 ie #85 ctn Pii Lri,Wne: od ad Critic’. G-D I, 543, item #2419, citing Douglas Brown, Hardy Good Larkin,‘Wanted: Philip citing Quarterly, 7(Summer1965),174–9. #2865, item 668, I, G-D rev. edn 1961;repr. Temecula, CA,Textbook Publishers,2003. , 648, item #2793, citing Richard Carpenter, Richard citing #2793, item 648, I, G-D FFMC Tess hs aiirt wt fl cso ad lsia taiin coupled tradition classical and custom folk with familiarity his ; – Hardy presented ‘a clash between agricultural and urban modes The . By contrast, Hardy-the-novelist may be reticent in handling

First 61 62

100 63 Albert Guérard’s seminal study has some points Guérard’s some Albert has study seminal

Years 51

of Hardy Thomas

Hardy

Thomas the

Hardy

Novelist

Criticism:

Hardy . London, Longmans, 1954; n sa i Criticism . in Essay An : . New York, Twayne,York, New . Hardy

1871–1971 60 FFMC wr ote Critical RN, , only Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 02:44 25 Sep 2021; For: 9781315613680, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315613680.ch2 67 indifferently rationalrealistalways threatenstosuppressthehauntedpoet. impulse after it had been exhausted, shifting between realism and anti-realism: the The 64 65 66 rather than as a means of suggesting emotion or conveying information’. conveying or emotion suggesting of means a as than rather his aesthetic is governed by ‘the purity of his reaction to form as an object of Mill, and others emotion who began in the 1850s to upset so-called Victorian complacency’; Huxley,Darwin, scientists: the ‘with but poets Victorian the with not sympathies poet’s and Hardy’s roots locates the life, emotional between his and tension leanings philosophical-scientific a seeing Southworth, G. James studies. new several J. O. Bailey argues that the drama evinces the influence of Ernst Haeckl’s Ernst of influence the evinces drama the that argues Bailey O. J. of thelanguage. eccentricity the reducing and clarity sharpening at primarily directed be to seem the to revisions his mode; descriptive in more detached, more idiom a to then 1900s, philosophic early and personal intensely relatively an from to passed verse Marsden, early conventional says Hardy, them. in expressed views the for be writing personative or dramatic verses; these disclaimers alleviate responsibility Hardy’s to from claims benefits frequent poems the the personal’of ‘intensely quality ironically experiences; inspirational those to fidelity his conspicuous a measure evincing large in of explain appreciation composition anhonest Wordsworth,unevenness:like poems his experiences, recollected workedfrom he of habits impeded his have accomplishments; difficulties his these itself; verse the of beset his early years as a poet and second because of which assumptions the and pressures critical eccentricity peculiar the and of because first unevennessanomalous, Samuel Pities at the end is not a resolution but only another point of view. of point proves thatHardy’sanother antinomialpattern only works onalargescale. but resolution a not is the end by the speech at final Pities the antinomy: an create to – spirit and human – worlds two are there fate; his change to helpless and men fellow from isolated man, modern in qualities: antinomial the refine and them clarify but countermelody.a Hardy’s poems his of meaning or form the alter not do revisions of light, youth and life, and of age and death: the latter dialectical is dominant, the other forms than rather – worldstwo similarly, on resolution; based no are is metaphors there his because antinomial is method Hardy’s irreconcilables’; between rvvl f neet n ad’ per ad rm a ti tm i mre by marked is time this at drama and poetry Hardy’s in interest of revival A eevd he iprat eosdrtos ihn decade. a within reconsiderations important three received Dynasts The was which poet, a as reputation Hardy’s to points Marsden Kenneth Next, Introduction. Oxford,OxfordUniversity Press,1969. G-D I, 749–50, item #3135, citing Kenneth Marsden, University ofNorthCarolinaPress,1961. , 505–6, item #2269, citing #2269, item 505–6, I, G-D Guérard, J. Albert , 493, item #2219, citing James Granville Southworth, Granville James citing #2219, item 493, I, G-D 1964. Directions, New CT, Norfolk, edn, rev. 1949; Press, University Harvard Cambridge, New York, ColumbiaUniversity Press,1947;repr. NewYork, Russell& Russell, 1966. , 564, item #2496, citing Samuel Hynes, Samuel citing #2496, item 564, I, G-D

Ashgate ye ietfe a oiat atr i te om, te eternalconflict ‘the poems, the in pattern a dominant identifies Hynes

67 Research

Companion 52

to The

Thomas

Pattern Thomas The

Poems

of Hardy

The Hardy Hardy’s The

of

Thomas Dynasts Poetry The Novels and Stories and Novels The : 66 Chapel Hill, Poetry.Chapel

of Hardy Thomas Napoleon is Napoleon The Dynasts The : A Critical 65 64 Next, Hardy. WP .

Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 02:44 25 Sep 2021; For: 9781315613680, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315613680.ch2 insane, bestialandunnecessary. promise ahappyending. of inability the and Adam; of majesty genuine the to opposed as Napoleon of stature pitiful the borrow; than rather invent to chose Hardy which machinery,celestial the ways: three least at in God and man between relationship 69 theme of theme the of develop Spirits the collectivelySpirit while temperament the and feelings his thought, Pities, the his mirrors Years the of Spirit the him; for speaks Chorus be striving to This express view itself’. may be taken as Hardy’s, just as the General naturally stems that may consciousness the that hope’ possible, is ‘evolutionarymeliorism that theme a from of ‘paean the wit to – fiction 1890s the as pessimistic as not is it Unconscious; the of Hartmann’sVontheory Eduard and determinism 68 hungers’. insatiable and ‘reasonless command’its and towardpowerby ‘impelled Will’, the Most characters awaken. may Will Immanent the consciousness, human by informed that, That is, he studied extensively the history of the Napoleonic era but steadfastly but era Napoleonic the of history the extensively studied he is, That Dynasts The others from learn to sought he without denying that the truth of indicate his own comments thinking and feeling and and that when notes he revised his – writers earlier and poetic of host a of studies metrics analytical careful, of towards result similarly,the is, attitude technique Hardy’s choice. moral for capacity man’s with determinism reconcile to effort an towards pointed consistently is thinker.It individual any from borrowing a not eclectic, remarkably are impressions’which his to both traceable extensive reading of the 1860s poets and philosophers and to his is own ‘philosophic work) important other in (as framework philosophic its understanding to key is poetry and philosophy in his own definition [of epic] and abide byit’; and abide epic] unknownand [of definition to own his man’srelation of thenature write must poet each that belief the in confident so doing and unknowableforces, define to ‘attempting is Hardy previous work. EdmundBurke’s writingsonthesublimepromptedhisuseof 3. 2. 1. nte dvain rm ovninl pc s h attd twrs a: itis war: towards attitude the is epic conventional from deviation Another Finally,Walter F. Hardy’sWrightretracing that Bailey with agrees explorations considers turn, in Orel, Harold Dynasts. Lawrence,University ofKansasPublications,1963. , 640, item #2769, citing Harold Orel, Harold citing #2769, item 640, I , G-D Temecula, CA, Textbook Publishers,2003. Dynasts . The of Reading , 561–2, item #2483, citing J. O. Bailey,O. J. citing #2483, item 561–2, I, G-D the lackofdramaticunity(whichreflectsBurke’s ideaofobscurity). the disorderofdiverse materials perspective fromagreatheight 68 Dynasts do not serve the Will but are subject to it: Napoleon is ‘a mechanism of mechanism ‘a is Napoleon it: to subject are but Will the serve not do he employed basically the same pattern of thought and procedure. thought of pattern same the basically employed he through a clash of opinions – the Pities presenting Hardy’spresenting Pities the – view opinions of clash a through The

First hpl il Uiest o Nrh aoia rs, 96 repr. 1956; Press, Carolina North of University Hill, Chapel

100 69 a fitting culmination to all Hardy’s all to culmination fitting a Dynasts The

Years 53

Thomas Thomas of

The Hardy

Hardy’s Hardy but disagrees that disagrees but Dynasts The Dynasts

Criticism:

and

Epic-Drama modifies the Miltonic the modifies the Cosmic The Dynasts The A Study of The of Study A :

1871–1971 Mind: A New to Downloaded By: 10.3.98.104 At: 02:44 25 Sep 2021; For: 9781315613680, chapter2, 10.4324/9781315613680.ch2 73 71 72 to best poems replace metaphysical concern with a fully honest and detailed response individualized an remains it but detail, imaginative synthesisratherthanaliteraltranscriptionofits sources. historical in rich and fact historical to faithful conspicuously therefore, is, drama finished the imaginatively; interpreted refused to allow his respect for history to override his conviction that fact had to be The 70 of or to beshown false.even modified, As ironized, fire’, under ‘expresserconstantly co is he fact’. physical where the in fiction metaphysic his in especially throughout, poetic is novels the in while life’; of conditions true the at bafflement ineluctable of sense ‘his us ‘Apprenticeship’ ( his During that in problematic occasionally are poems philosophic overtly his philosophy; his just experience’ of and to ‘give them equal weight but no faces synthesis’; Hardy’s multiple world view is but more than basic ‘the see to ability the imagination, poetic is power his of source the genre: of regardless Hardy’svision, of wholeness unity and the argues example, for Brooks, Jean unbroken. remained ground Wessex life he had known as a child. a as known had he life creating (in imaginationHardy’s ‘Renewal’, turns historical of to years 1880s, the recession, of period a after born: was Wessex of realm imaginary the which ‘Achievement’in past and present. causedworkshisallInit. ‘cosmic significance’ measured is this juxtapositionby of has he sense moral a in Susan’sdeservesbecauseHenchard returncharacters: his incoincidentalevents’; the of significance the expand and emphasizethe toand time-as-historyexperience, of ofmanipulation measure valid a as passing time of denial his is this with involvedexperience; of intensity the of idea dramatically,expressing,the of way rnfre atborpy o del eprecd esnl rsrto o an of frustration personal ( experienced 1870s the kind’; sexual a as well as intellectual deeply of autobiography, transferred h tai vso’ ad i disti is Hardy vision’ tragic the the physical world as it is recorded by human fee human by recorded is it as world physical the Dale Kramer, in a seminal essay on Hardy’s tragic he shows that vision, argues examines Millgate Michael much that demonstrate works new several decade next the of turn the At G-D London, TheBodleyHead,1971. 34 ie #32 iig et . Hornback, T G. Bert citing #3332 item 374, II, G-D Helmut G-D II G-D 1971. Press, University Cornell London, ElekBooks,1971;Ithaca, Writings Thomas WalterF.Wright,citing #3030, item 719, I, G-D

Ashgate echnique they deny his world view, ‘the human being with his c his with being human view,‘the world his deny they selves are are themselves ideas the that ‘so art his manages often he obtrude ideas , 6, tm 38, iig en . Brooks, R. Jean citing #3286, item 365, II), , 378, item #3357, citing #3357, item 378, , Hardy. Lincoln,University ofNebraskaPress,1967. MC E. AboutHim.DeKalb,NorthernIllinoisUniversity Press,1983,vol. II(hereafter intheWorks ofThomasHardy. Athens, OhioUniversity Press,1971. Gerber and W. Eugene Davis, Eds,

and Research 73 W )

MC an authentic image of Wessex modelled on the Dorsetshire , his best novel, coincidence results from the actions of actions the from resultscoincidencenovel, best his ,

Companion 72 DR Bert G. Hornback, by contrast, examines ‘Hardy’sexamines contrast, by Hornback, G. Bert

the unevenness of achievement of Hardy’sfiction. of achievement of unevenness the Michael Millgate, Michael 71 , UGT n guished by ‘the variation in emotional and and emotional in variation ‘the by guished 54 and

to Thomas PBE

Thomas The Shaping of The Dynasts: The of Shaping The FFMC Thomas Thomas )

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