Palgrave Advances in Thomas Hardy Studies

'Most of the essays in this collection are driven by their authors' knowledge of Hardy and adorned by their unusually (for academicians) approachable prose styles. The intention of the collection, and of most of the essays, is to encourage readers and other sorts of students to develop their own perspectives and entry-points into the fiction and (to a lesser extent) the poetry. This intention is carried through to a strong degree. Undergraduate and graduate students, and professional readers will find many points of departure in this book. Obviously, given the book's intention and its achievement, readers who are drawn to Hardy will be stimulated to various thoughts, and some of them will be controversial. In short, this collection is worth the money to anyone who admires Hardy.' - Professor Dale Kramer, University of Oregon (and Editor of the Cambridge Companion to Thomas Hardy )