Journal Information

The Hardy Society Journal appears twice annually, in spring and summer. Contributions might include – but are not limited to – reports on Society activities and other Hardy-related events, Society news, creative writing, reproducible illustrations, reflective pieces, book reviews, short research snapshots, and formal research articles. Research articles for the Hardy Society Journal will not typically exceed 5,000 words, though longer articles may be considered for inclusion.

Publisher Information

The Thomas Hardy Society was founded in 1968 to promote understanding and appreciation of the life and works of the novelist and poet Thomas Hardy (1840-1928). One of the largest literary societies in the world, the Thomas Hardy Society is a community of general readers and enthusiasts as well as students and academics. Based in Dorchester, the Society organises a lively programme of public engagement and academic events including lectures, Study Days, guided walks through Hardy’s Wessex and in London and elsewhere, concerts, poetry readings, and more. With an international membership, three journals a year, a biennial festival and conference, and strong links to other organisations promoting Hardyan themes, the Thomas Hardy Society acts as a hub for the education and enjoyment of anyone with an interest in Thomas Hardy.

Answer:

British poet and novelist Thomas Hardy stopped writing novels after Jude the Obscure (1895) and focused his attention on poetry. Shown below is a draft of one of his more famous poems, here entitled "By the Century's Deathbed" but better known as "The Darkling Thrush." In this draft, probably written ca. 1899-1900, Hardy's choice of words differs considerably from the final published version of the poem, especially in the first and third stanzas. For the text of the published poem, see this version from the Academy of American Poets.

The poem first appeared as "By the Century’s Deathbed" in the London Graphic on Dec. 29, 1900. It was later collected in Poems of the Past and Present(Harper, 1901) as '"The Darkling Thrush."