Resistance is a key concept for understanding the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, and for approaching the poetry of the period. This collection of 15 critical essays explores how poetry and resistance interact, set against a philosophical, historical and cultural background. In the light of the upheavals of the age, and the changing perception of the nature of language, resistance is seen to lie at the core of poetic preoccupations, moving poetic language forward. From this perspective, the resistance of poetry is connected with the human call to solidarity, resilience, and, ultimately, meaning. The volume covers poetry from Hardy, Yeats and Auden, among others, to contemporary writers like Hugo Williams and Linton Kwesi Johnson.

Thomas Hardy's fiction has had a remarkably strong appeal for general readers for decades, and his poetry has been acclaimed as among the most influential of the twentieth century. His work still creates passionate advocacy and opposition. The Cambridge Companion to Thomas Hardy is an essential introduction to this most enigmatic of writers. These commissioned essays from an international team of contributors comprises a general overview of all Hardy' s work and specific demonstrations of Hardy's ideas and literary skills. Individual essays explore Hardy's biography, aesthetics, his famous attachment to Wessex, and the impact on his work of developments in science, religion and philosophy in the late nineteenth century. Hardy's writing is also analysed against developments in contemporary critical theory and issues such as sexuality and gender. The volume also contains a detailed chronology of Hardy's life and publications, and a guide to further reading.

Immerse yourself in the tumultuous world of the Napoleonic Wars with "The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon" by Thomas Hardy. This monumental work presents a sweeping narrative that intertwines the personal struggles of individuals with the grand scale of historical events. Hardy’s ambitious epic-drama is divided into three parts, showcasing the fateful clash between nations and the myriad forces that shape human destiny. Through rich characterization and poetic dialogue, he brings to life the dilemmas faced by soldiers, statesmen, and common folk caught in the storm of war. With its profound exploration of fate, free will, and the impact of history on individual lives, "The Dynasts" transcends traditional historical narrative, inviting readers to reflect on the broader implications of conflict and ambition. Hardy’s masterful prose captures the essence of an era marked by struggle and resilience, offering a poignant commentary on the human condition. Join Hardy as he navigates the complexities of war, leadership, and morality in this timeless epic. Discover the intricate web of personal and political struggles that defined a generation and shaped the course of history. Don't miss your chance to experience this literary masterpiece. Grab your copy of "The Dynasts" today and embark on an unforgettable journey through the epic drama of the Napoleonic Wars!

Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) was a major English poet and novelist; his works, often set in the fictional county of Wessex, are memorable for their realism and criticism of social constraints. This book, the first volume of a two volume selected collection of his works, includes ‘Under the Greenwood Tree’, ‘A Pair of Blue Eyes’, ‘Far From the Madding Crowd’, ‘The Return of the Native’, ‘The Trumpet-Major’ and ‘The Mayor of Casterbridge’.

Hardy Deconstructing Hardy aims to add a new dimension of research which has been partly overlooked—a Derridean, Deconstructive reading of Hardy‘s poetry. Analyzing thirty-four popular and less popular poems by Hardy, this volume challenges current references to Derridean Deconstructionism. While Hardy is not conventionally considered a Modernist poet, he shares with Modernists an element that can be referred to as the linguistic crisis by which they try to get over the sense of anxiety against the backdrop of a chaotic world and problematized language. The forerunner of Deconstructionism, Derrida, exposes a long established history of logocentric thinking, which has continually been moving between binary oppositions and Platonic dualities. Derrida simply puts forward the idea that there is no logos, no origin, and no centre of truth. The centre is always somewhere else; he identifies this as a ―free play of signifiers.‖ Consequently, the anxiety of the poet with modern sensibility to find a point of reference inevitably results in a ―crisis of representation,‖ or, in a problematic relation between language and truth, the signifier and the signified. This crisis can be observed in Hardy‘s poetry, too. For this purpose, this research focuses on four key concepts in Hardy‘s poetry that expose this problematic relationship between language and truth: his agnosticism, his concept of the self, his language and concept of structure, and his concept of time and temporality. These aspects are explored in the light of Derrida‘s Deconstructionism with reference to poems by Hardy which heralded the Modernist crisis of representation. This text will fulfill the function of reconciling theory with practice and become the manifestation of the importance of Poststructuralist criticism.

Thomas Hardy’s famous sequence of love poems, published as a book for the first time. When Emma Hardy died in 1912, her husband, the great novelist and poet Thomas Hardy, began to write “Poems of 1912–13,” a series of elegies that are among the most moving in the English language. Although the couple had been estranged for years, after her death Hardy fell under Emma’s spell again and was enthralled by her as he hadn’t been in decades. He transformed his hopelessly revived love into poetry, pouring out his yearning and passionate attachment to a love forever lost. “Poems of 1912–13” and the other elegies about Emma included in this volume have been read and discussed by poets and scholars for almost a century but never collected in their own book. Their accessibility, emotional power, and focus on the mysterious complexities of marriage make them of interest to a broad public. Readers will cherish this beautifully produced, illustrated volume of poetical testaments to enduring love.