Hardy, Thomas | “Why is it that a woman can see from a distance what a man cannot see close?”

Property from an Important American Collection

Hardy, Thomas

The Return of the Native. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1878

3 volumes, 8vo. Half-titles, 2 pages of publisher's advertisements at end of volume II, blind stamp of W.H. Smith library to the ffep; bound without the frontispiece map, which was printed separately and not present in all copies, occasional light spotting. Publisher's brown cloth, stamped in black, spine gilt and black, triple blind frame to rear covers; head and foot of spines lightly scuffed, two small spots to rear cover of volume I, outer corners very slightly scuffed, lower hinge of Vol. III expertly repaired. Collector's morocco slipcase, folding chemise.

First edition, a handsome copy.

The Return of the Native was first serialized in Belgravia from January to December 1878. The controversial themes in Hardy's sixth novel initially made publication difficult. The Return of the Native's frank discussion of sexual relationships led to The Cornhill Magazine to reject its serialization "on the grounds that the relation between Eustacia, Wildeve, and Tomasin might develop into something 'dangerous' for a family magazine" (Maitland, Life and Letters of Leslie Stephen, London, 1906, pp.276-77).

Set in the Hardyan fictional county of Wessex, The Return of the Native, follows Clym Yeobright as he reestablishes himself in his rustic homeland following a period as a jeweler in Paris.

REFERENCES:

Purdy pp.24-27; Sadleir 1113 (Binding A); Wolff 2989