Works of Thomas Hardy discussion

I'm feeling up to reading another Thomas Hardy after a long break. Is anyone else interested? I thought we could plan it for April and May of 2016 since it's 500+ pages. Plus, a comedy sounds promising. I've missed Hardy.

The Hand of Ethelberta: A Comedy in Chapters (published 1876)
GoodReads Synopsis:
Adventuress and opportunist, Ethelberta reinvents herself to disguise her humble origins, launching a brilliant career as a society poet in London with her family acting incognito as her servants. Turning the male-dominated literary world to her advantage, she happily exploits the attentions of four very different suitors. Will she bestow her hand upon the richest of them, or on the man she loves? Ethelberta Petherwin, alias Berta Chickerel, moves with easy grace between her multiple identities, cleverly managing a tissue of lies to aid her meteoric rise. In "The Hand of Ethelberta" (1876), Hardy drew on conventions of popular romances, illustrated weeklies, plays, fashion plates, and even his wife's diary in this comic story of a woman in control of her destiny.

Available:
Kindle ($0.00): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008...
Paperback ($14.14): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0140...
Librivox audio ($0.00): https://librivox.org/the-hand-of-ethe...

I'm in.

I read Hand of Ethelberta 2 years ago so its too soon for a re-read. My copy was However, I'm anxious to re-read the next book, Return of the Native.

Brian wrote: "I read Hand of Ethelberta 2 years ago so its too soon for a re-read. My copy was However, I'm anxious to re-read the next book, Return of the Native."

It looks like some of what you wrote got cut off there. Did you enjoy it?

I'm looking forward to Return of the Native as well. Let's go ahead and set that one up for June since it comes up right after this.

Yes, Im in also.

I couldn't sleep and ended up reading 8% of this novel last night. Oops. I guess I'm a few days ahead. It's definitely typical Hardy and an enjoyable read so far.

So, here's my first question. It's not a spoiler. Were people self-publishing in England in the 1800s? Someone (Ethelberta we assume) anonymously sends a freshly cut poetry volume to Christopher. The author of the volume is listed simply as E, and the clues we get seem to indicate that she perhaps had it self-published to send to Christopher. Considering the typesetting work that would have had to go into getting a book self-published, it seems as if it would be a costly endeavor to self-publish a poetry volume. Does anyone have any insight on this? I know that Walt Whitman self-published his Leaves of Grass (1855) and Mark Twain self-published Huckleberry Finn (1884) in North America. However, these were mass produced. But what about single-copy volumes in England around 1876? Does anyone know?

Im not sure about single copies, but I do know that Virginai Woolf self published because, as a woman, she found it hard to get accepted. She and her husband (Leonard) ended up forming Hogarth Press, principally to publish all of Virginia's works. They did everything including the type setting.

Amy wrote: "Brian wrote: "I read Hand of Ethelberta 2 years ago so its too soon for a re-read. My copy was However, I'm anxious to re-read the next book, Return of the Native."

It looks like some of what you ..."

I was going to say that my Penguin version of "Hand" was only 409 pages rather than over 500 as in your edition. Of course, 500 pages may include the notes etc.
I thought the novel was OK, but probably preferred The Laodicean out of Hardy's "novels of ingenuity."
I've read all of Hardy's novels but not his short stories, so I'm happy the group is reading the short stories in 2017 and beyond.

I'd never considered the problem of wanting to dance all night and needing a musician to help with the music part of that problem. It's so easy these days to just pop on some music in a variety of ways. And this was published a year before the invention of the phonograph. I wonder how soon after the invention of the phonograph it was widely enough owned to use to keep parties going all night. The 1920s? And suddenly this plot device is obsolete.

Ethelberta expresses her hope of becoming a professional live storyteller/reader of her own fiction. I can imagine it now -- the newest coffee shop trend. Forget slam poetry and open mic night where bad poets and cringe-worthy musicians get their special snowflake moments (along with the rare gems). Now self-published crap novels get crammed into your ears by the authors while you sip your cup of burned bean juice. Eep. Maybe she'd do better to narrate her own audio books. ;)

I'm about 30% in, and I'm finding myself not really wanting to turn the pages on this one. Where is everyone else? Thoughts?

I actually stopped last year at around page 100. The novel seems to be missing a clear interesting central plot. I also find it it difficult to see the inciting incident. What sets the story going?

I think the theme and idea offers a lot of potential, but the plot goes (too) slow.

Reddleman wrote: "I actually stopped last year at around page 100. The novel seems to be missing a clear interesting central plot. I also find it it difficult to see the inciting incident. What sets the story going?..."

I agree. There's nothing moving the story along. I liked the initial opener where the youngsters want to dance all night and need a musician. I found it intriguing that everyone has read the same poetry and that the local poetess is an overnight sensation. But, why do I want to read any more? Does it eventually pick up? I'm at the point of possibly abandoning this one. I feel like I'm in the middle of too many dud books lately.