On the Tuesday, Thomas Hardy's childhood/young adulthood cottage at Higher Bockhampton had been closed so I'd only been able to glimpse it, but as I approached it from the distance on the Friday, I could see smoke coming from the central chimney:
Thoroughly enjoyed walking round and chatting to the really pleasant people who worked at the cottage, mainly talking about their favourite Hardy novels.
Below, we're upstairs in the cottage, in the bedrooms where Hardy and his siblings came into the world and spent their early years:
I was told that it was in one of these bedrooms that the young Hardy wrote 'Under The Greenwood Tree' (1872) and 'Far From The Madding Crowd' (1874). Read the former about 12 years ago while in Warsaw and the latter many moons ago in the mid-1980s while still in Bury, Lancashire. Amazingly, I remember a lot more from 'Far From The Madding Crowd', possibly because of the film versions, especially the classic one with Julie Christie as Bathsheba Everdene and Alan Bates as Gabriel Oak.
Below, we seem to be downstairs in the cottage:
While visiting a few Hardy places, I was each time told about Hardy's family having been interested in fiddles/violins, and it must've been great listening to hymns being accompanied by such instruments inside Stinsford church, just a couple of miles from Higher Bockhampton.
Have just read that the cottage was built by Hardy's grandfather in 1800.
Really enjoyed myself at Higher Bockhampton, especially chatting to the staff there about their favourite Hardy novels.
Was particulary interested when a young woman in her mid-20s explained that she preferred 'The Mayor of Casterbridge' to 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' or 'Jude the Obscure', because of it's local connection to Dorchester and the fact that it was about a 'real man of flesh and blood'. In contrast, she found it more difficult to relate to 'Tess' as the action takes place all over Dorset and 'Jude' as things take place even more further afield (Oxford and Salisbury). Think she also pointed towards Tess and Jude being 'too ethereal' to empathise with (really enjoyed debating this point with her).
Enjoyed your photos and comments about your travel there. Would have enjoyed, very much, joinin the conversation about Jude, Tess and the Mayor. Love the film with Ciaran Hinds in M of C.The twist at the end of the book where Elizabeth is NOT his daughter seemed too cruel. To me, anyway. While he seemed hard, cold and calloused in the beginning, he tried hard to right himself. Love the book but still resent her lie.
ReplyDeleteI actually felt bad in some ways for Alex in Tess. Tess was simplicity, niavete, and didn't deserve all that befell her. Angel Clare, I could not feel sorry for. Selfrighteous, unforgiving and proud to a fault.
Jude was unrelentingly, hammeringly (is that a word?) SAD.
My fav is FFMC. Baths Heb I love, get frustrated with, angry with for her simpleton maneuvers with Mr. Boldwood. I cried when Fanny Robin was returned to her home. Movies have never done justice to her waiting with the coffin by candlelight, prying off the lid, seeing the infant and St. Troy's cruel response to Bathsheba. Enjoyed the characters in the malthouse, at the farm and, who does not love Gabriel Oak?
Sorry to take up so much of your time. If there are mispells, I try to catch them. I have eye troubles. Just had to share with a fellow TH lover.
P.S. If you enjoy exploring or discussing religion, I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses and would be honored to answe, to the best of my ability, any question you may have. With all respect. Good night.
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