The Lyric Poet (1898-1922)
One moment.
(Turns over the leaves.)
Hardy. Mr. Thomas.
Novelist. Author of The Woodlanders,
Far from the Madding Crowd, The Trumpet-Major,
Tess of the D’Urbervilles, etcetera,
Etcetera. In 1895
Jude the Obscure was published, and a few
Hasty reviewers, having to supply
A column for the day of publication
Filled out their space by saying that there were
Several passages that might have been
Omitted with advantage. Mr. Hardy
Saw that if that was so, well then, of course,
Obviously the only thing to do
Was to write no more novels, and forthwith
Applied himself to Drama, and to Us. . . .
Mr. Beerbohm really thought, however, that "to accept that explanation were to insult him. A puny engine of art may be derailed by such puny obstacles as the public can set in its way. So strong an engine as Mr. Hardy rushes straight on, despite them, never so little jarred by them, and stops not save for lack of inward steam. Mr. Hardy writes no more novels because he has no more novels to write."
The most reasonable explanation seems to be that Hardy, feeling that he had expressed himself in the form of prose fiction as well as he was ever likely to, and that he had sufficiently indulged the public in using for twenty-five years the most easily comprehended method of approach, decided that he would henceforth indulge
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