A Preface to Hardy: Second Edition

by Merryn Williams

A Preface to Hardy remains the best introduction to one of the most important and popular writers in English literature. The first section concentrates on Hardy the man and outlines the intellectual and cultural context in which he lived. The author then moves on to examine a wide range of Hardy's work, with particular reference to The Mayor of Casterbridge. There is new material on Hardy's short stories and their relation to the major novels, and on The Dynasts, which accompanies a study of a range of Hardy's other poetry.

214 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 1976

About the author

Merryn Williams is a poet and the author of books on Thomas Hardy and Margaret Oliphant. Raymond Williams, her father, is Emeritus Professor of Drama, University of Cambridge, and a Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge.

Reviews

[Eleni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering how much I disliked the other Hardy book by the same author, I have to say this one was worth reading. While a small thing, my favourite "tit bit" from this book was a drawing/cartoon of God talking to Hardy....

[Amalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent introduction to Hardy and his setting. If you are someone like me, who enjoy Hardy’s works tremendously but do not have enough time to spend on lengthy biographies, then this is a good book. It is divided into three parts: The Writer and his Setting (Hardy’s Life, Hardy the countryman, Hardy the Victorian), Critical Survey (includes Hardy’s heroes and their predicaments, introductions to short stories and the Dynasts, selected poems) and Reference section with Maps and short biographies)

The part I really enjoyed is the poetry section. ‘The Preface Books’ seem to be very handy with its content so I’m thinking about moving onto the Brontes, Oscar Wilde, Wilfred Owen and Shakespeare’s Tragedies.