Works of Thomas Hardy discussion

This is the thread to discuss The Three Strangers, a short story from Thomas Hardy's Wessex Tales. It is hosted by Connie and reading is between 9th and 22nd July.

This thread opens on 5th July, but please allow Connie to comment first! Thanks!

Introduction to "The Three Strangers" and "Wessex Tales"

"The Three Strangers" was first published in the British "Longman's Magazine," and the American "Harper's Weekly" in March 1883. Both magazines presented it as an unillustrated story. To prevent American piracy of his work, Hardy arranged to have the story published in both magazines within a couple of weeks of each other.

In 1888, Macmillan published "Wessex Tales," his first collection of short stories. It started as a five story collection but more stories were added later, and it is now reprinted with seven stories. "Wessex Tales" are set in Hardy's fictional Wessex which represents Dorset, the pastoral area in southwestern England where he spent his childhood. Some of the stories in "Wessex Tales" are set before Hardy's birth in 1840, and are based on traditional folklore.

Hardy wrote the stories in "Wessex Tales" during a time when he was frequently moving between the country locale of Dorset and city life in London. He knew that urban readers were not aware of the skills and determination it took to survive in the country. Hardy wanted to represent country people as they really were, instead of the rural caricature called "Hodge." His "Wessex Tales" come from a combination of written and oral sources, and feature diverse rural characters who contribute to the economy and culture of Wessex. He also understood the economic insecurity of the farm workers who did not own any land. Hardy set "The Three Strangers" near the fictional town of Casterbridge which is modeled after Dorchester.

I'm looking forward to reading The Three Strangers with the group starting on Sunday, July 9th.

The story can be read online at many free sources. "The Thomas Hardy Short Story Page" at the darlynthomas website has all the stories scheduled so far this summer:

https://www.darlynthomas.com/hardysho...


TSS (The Short Story) has "The Three Strangers" in bold, fairly large print, good for aging eyes. You have to google TSS the short story the three strangers pdf. I was unable to get a web address that led directly to the story.


Project Gutenberg has the e-book, "Wessex Tales":

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3056
or
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3056/...


There are also copies of "Wessex Tales" or "The Three Strangers" on Amazon, or Barnes and Noble. You could also check your local bookstore or library.

Reading Schedule

"The Three Strangers" has been divided into ten sections. The first section is the shortest since there are so many historical figures and unusual terms mentioned as Hardy sets the scene. The story moves quickly once we get past the first section.

Day 1 (7/9) Read to "On the hearth, in front of a back-brand to give substance, blazed a fire of thorns, that crackled like the laughter of the fool."

Day 2 (7/10) Read to "The absence of all notes of life in that direction seemed to clinch his intentions, and he knocked at the door."

Day 3 (7/11) Read to "Lighting his pipe at the candle with a suction that drew the whole flame into the bowl, he resettled himself in the corner and bent his looks upon the faint steam from his damp legs, as if he wished to say no more."

Day 4 (7/12) Read to "When he had tossed off his portion the shepherd renewed his inquiry about the stranger's occupation."

Day 5 (7/13) Read to ". . . he's going to live in the same cottage under the . . . wall."

Day 6 (7/14) Read to "We were all a-wondering what made him run off in such a fright," faltered one of the women against the wall, "and now 'tis explained!"

Day 7 (7/15) Read to "Thus in the space of two or three minutes the room on the ground floor was deserted quite."

Day 8 (7/16) Read to "The band noiselessly drew up and faced him."

Day 9 (7/17) Read to "A pretty kettle of fish altogether!" said the magistrate.

Day 10 (7/18) Read to ". . . a story as well known as ever in the country about Higher Crowstairs." (End)

Days 11-14 (7/19-7/22) Further discussion

"The Three Strangers" was my introduction to Hardy's work, read as a high school student in British Literature class. It was one of my favorite selections in that textbook (and still is).

"A story must be exceptional enough to justify its telling. We tale-tellers are all Ancient Mariners, and none of us is warranted in stopping Wedding Guests (in other words, the hurrying public) unless he has something more unusual to relate than the ordinary experience of every average man and woman," Hardy wrote in 1893. I think those who read this story will agree with me that it eminently passes that test!

Thanks for sharing that quote from Hardy, Werner. "The Three Strangers" has suspense, humor, and something about the human condition to think about. So it definitely passes that test! I hope you'll read along with us this summer.

Connie wrote: "I hope you'll read along with us this summer."

Sadly, I don't plan to, since I have some other reading in hand, and will also be on vacation and out of town again for two more weeks this summer, during which interludes I won't have convenient Internet access. But I'll be following this thread with interest!

Thanks for this interesting information Connie - and for finding plenty of links, so everyone can access a copy.

I'm lucky and have an Isis (specialist Large Print) edition, so am about to mark our breaks in there now 😊

The Three Strangers
Day 1 Summary

The isolation is emphasized in the descriptions of the countryside of a lonely shepherd's cottage in southwestern England, three miles from the nearest town. It is the night of March 28, 182-, during heavy rains coming down like arrows. Unsheltered animals and birds have to deal with the blustery winds. Guests were coming to the upland cottage to celebrate the christening of the shepherd's second daughter. The cottage was warm, light, and festive for this special occasion.

Paragraph 1 Glossary

furzy - referring to a plant called furze or gorse, a bush with sharp pointed leaves and small yellow flowers.

downs - open expanses of gentle hills and few trees.

coomb - a deep hollow or valley

ewe-lease - a pasture for female sheep

Paragraph 2 Isolation and Inhumanity

Two historical figures are mentioned who are associated with isolation and inhumanity to other people.

Timon - a misanthrope from Athens who disliked being around other humans. He was the inspiration for Shakespeare's "Timon of Athens."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timon_o...

Nebuchadnezzar II -a Babylonian king famous for his military campaigns, great building projects, injustice, and oppression. Since he did not repent for his injustice and abuse of power, he went through a period of mental illness and lived in the wild for seven years like an animal as a punishment from God. (Daniel 4:1-37)

https://www.studylight.org/commentari...

Paragraph 3 Location of Cottage

"'Higher Crowstairs,' as the house was called, stood quite detached and undefended." The house is also exposed to the elements since it sits on high ground.

rime - quick freezing of water vapor, hoarfrost

pernicious - harmful, injurious

wuzzes and flames (hoarses and phlegms) - respiratory inflamation with a hoarse voice and mucus.

Paragraph 4 Arrows

The story is set in 182-. The late 1820s and the 1830s were "a period of great agricultural depression in Britain, especially affecting southwestern England" according to Gilmartin and Mengham in Thomas Hardy's Shorter Fiction: A Critical Study. The narrator is telling the tale fifty years later.


"The level rainstorm smote walls, slopes, and hedges like the cloth-yard shafts of Senlac and Crecy."

cloth-yard - a measuring stick used by the textile industry. Hardy is using this term for the shaft of a long arrow which is used for a long bow. The heavy rain is being compared to an arrow.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longbow

Senlac - Senlac Ridge was the site of a Saxon vs Norman battle where Harold II deployed his soldiers during the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senlac_...

Crecy - the location of a battle fought in France during the Hundred Years' War in 1346.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_...

Hardy is comparing the unintentional force of Nature to the deliberate force of these battles in which archery played a significant part.

Paragraphs 6 The Hearth

'On the hearth, in front of a back-brand to give substance, blazed a fire of thorns, that cackled "like the laughter of the fool."'

brand - a charred piece of wood

like the laughter of the fool - from Ecclesiastes 7:6

3Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. 4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 5It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. 6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/...

Does anyone have any thoughts about the initial part of our story?

Hi, everybody! I'd love to join you for this read, if I may. I've seen this story mentioned as one of the best short stories in English; I know such lists are subjective, but still, I was keeping it in mind, - and, of course, this is a great opportunity for me to dig deep into it, as the people in this group are so knowledgeable.

Wow, Connie, what a huge amount of work you've done for just these first paragraphs! Thank you!

Does anybody know why the phrase 'conceive and meditate of pleasant things' has quotation marks? A brief Google search leads me back to this story, but it looks like a quote or allusion, doesn't it? Do I understand correctly that the author is being ironic about poets et al?

My initial thoughts...

It is likely that the shepherd who lives in the cottage is one of the main characters of the story :) The first thing we're told about him is that he does not feel he's to be pitied for living where he lives; I like him at once for this. The fact that he didn't take advantage of any natural features must also be significant; I suppose he might be a very direct person (although I suppose the cottage was not necessarily built by the same man).

I understand the readers are supposed to feel chilled by the descriptions of the inclement weather, but reading this in the summer heat is actually pleasantly refreshing :)

Yet, it's cozy and comfortable inside, - even more so because it's cold outside, of course.

Sheep-crooks mentioned in the same paragraph as the Bibles might be significant.

Thank you so much for the detailed glossary and references Connie. As I was reading today's part, I wondered how many of the local terms would stymie those outside Dorset ... never mind those outside England!

In the first paragraph alone we have "grassy and furzy downs, coombs or ewe-leases". These are Dorset dialect words; there are many places called "Coombe" in Dorset, but your definitions for the general reader are invaluable. Readers may also like to know that at the beginning of paragraph 3:

A barrow is a name for a mountain or mound, which in prehistory was a burial place. There are many of these hills in the South West of England.

A camp ("earthen camp") is an earthwork which was once an enclosure for an iron Age hill fort. Only the shape remains, e.g. Maiden Castle (pictures here) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maiden_..., which Thomas Hardy calls "Mai Dun" in The Mayor of Casterbridge. (The name is nothing to do with young girls by the way "Mai" means big, and "Dun" is Celtic (actually Gaelic) for a fortified place.)

Now I see the reason for your decision to break the reading days into such short passages, Connie! 😊

My personal reaction to this part of the story is how Thomas Hardy has beautifully highlighted and contrasted the bleak weather outside, with the warmth and fellowship inside. It does not matter that these are poor people - a shepherd's family perhaps scratching a subsistance living - because in the cottage they are warm and cosy and have each other.

Shepherd's crooks are very much valued as individual carved works of Art. No wonder they are on display here, without the staff (stick) part. Sometimes nowadays you see them on sale in the weekly antique market in Bridport (Thomas Hardy's "Port Bredy") or traditional craft shows.

We do wonder why this cottage is situated on such an exposed part of the Downs, though, when it's not normal practice.

I look forward to reading this short story. Will check back soon!

Plateresca, thank you for your interesting thoughts on today's part of the story. I also had googled "conceive and meditate of pleasant things," but did not come up with any source. Hardy may be emphasizing the contrast between the sleets, snows, rains, mist and isolation, and the beauty that those in the arts would find in the area. As a poet himself, he may be having a little fun with this phrase. There is actually quite a bit of humor in the story, and there seems to be some irony as you mentioned.

Your instincts are right that the shepherd is a likable person, and feels very much at home in his surroundings.

I'm glad that both you and Jean mentioned the shepherd's crooks. I thought displaying them as works of art showed pride in their occupation. Herding sheep may be a job that goes back generations in their family. People at that time wrote dates of birth, death, and christenings of their family members in the front of their Bibles - which would tie into the feeling that being a shepherd was a family occupation. We also think of the Good Shepherd when we see a reference to the Bible.

Jean, thank you for the additional Dorset terms. It's wonderful to have your expertise!

Yes, there is a wonderful contrast between the inclement weather outside and the warmth and fun with neighbors inside. Hardy uses many instances of contrast and conflict in this story so we can all keep our eyes open for more to come.

I also wondered why the cottage was in such an exposed area. It does have the advantage of being near the crossing of two walking paths. A disadvantage is that it is not in a valley where you would be more likely to find a stream for water for the cottage and for the sheep.

Pamela, I'm happy you're reading along with us too.

The quotation "conceive and meditate of pleasant things" could also be Biblical, but I'm not sure which edition. Perhaps Thomas Hardy has just paraphrased it himself:

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."

- Philippians 4:8 (New King James Version)

Connie, thank you for such a great introduction to this story.

I'm enjoying the atmospheric start to this story.
Like Plateresca and Bionic Jean, I find the contrast of the warm, cozy oasis in the middle of the stormy countryside. The idea that these people travelled from their homes in such weather to celebrate together shows their connectivity and community to each other. It's very pleasant. These people have each other and are never alone, despite their isolation.

I also liked that the shepherd's crooks were displayed. I suppose it might have been an easy way to tidy them away after a day in the fields and keeps them handy, but it also displays them as a sign of honor.

I was struck that the house was so exposed and at a cross roads. I'm sure this is intentional on Hardy's part. The cross roads makes me think that these people will have a difficult choice ahead; one that may change their lives.

Bionic Jean wrote: "The quotation "conceive and meditate of pleasant things" could also be Biblical, but I'm not sure which edition. Perhaps Thomas Hardy has just paraphrased it himself:

"Finally, bret..."

The Phillippians 4:8 quote certainly has many of the same ideas, although it's not exactly the same in any of the versions I read. Since Hardy was very familiar with the Bible, and the phrase was in quotation marks, he may have paraphrased it as you suggested.

Petra wrote: "Connie, thank you for such a great introduction to this story.

I'm enjoying the atmospheric start to this story.
Like Plateresca and Bionic Jean, I find the contrast of the warm, cozy oasis in t..."

Petra, thanks for your comments about the atmospheric start to the story. There seems to be a bit of an ominous tone with the mentions of the arrows and man's inhumanity to man during the wars that has me wondering what Hardy is foreshadowing.

The shepherd's crooks that are used as art objects often are only the curved top part of the crook without the staff. Some of them are carved in ornate swirls, and may be decorated. They might have memories of the person who used them, carved them, or gifted them to the shepherd's family. Hardy writes, "The calling of its inhabitant was proclaimed by a number of highly-polished sheep-crooks without stems that were hung ornamentally over the fireplace, the curl of each shining crook varying from the antiquated type engraved in the patriarchal pictures of old family Bibles to the most approved fashion of the last local sheep-fair."

I'm glad you're reading along with us, Petra!

I love all these comments, giving me so much to think about. And thank you Connie for the links, and the glossary - they were so helpful!

I too like this Shepherd. I like that he (or maybe his ancestors) didn't build this house in the same way everyone else did, near a barrow, a clump of trees or an ancient hedge, but rather on the crossing of two roads. That makes him stand out as an individual. I wonder if he thinks differently than his neighbors? The realtive isolation doesn't seem to bother him.

I liked how Hardy introduces this story, starting out broad and vast and moving to the specific. We starts with the agricultural setting in England being little changed by the lapse of centuries. And the land being occupied by "some shepherd". Then the second paragraph lets us know this story happened 50 years ago and is being retold now. By the 4th paragraph we are told a specific date March 28, 182_ and we have a specific shepherd. We even know its around 8 o'clock.

I felt the shepherd's crooks on the wall echo this passage of time. They move from antiquated engraving to the most modern fashion.

It's masterful story telling starting with the widest possible lens and slowly bringing the reader into the cottage beside the hearth.

Bridget wrote: "It's masterful story telling starting with the widest possible lens and slowly bringing the reader into the cottage beside the hearth...."

I love the way you're looking at the start of the story, Bridget. There is such a sense of history and tradition in this story, and other works of Hardy's set in his fictional Wessex.

When I think of the cottage being built at the crossing of two roads, I think of its occupants wanting to be able to socialize and trade in spite of the isolation.

Connie wrote: "....highly-polished sheep-crooks without stems.....

Oops....thanks for the reminder, Connie.

This makes me think of memorial crooks for beloved family members who had been shepherd's before this generation's time.

Whatever they are displayed for, the carvings and artwork on them, giving a history (of sorts) of the area, would have been spectacular.

Bridget, I like your thoughts of an expanse being pinpointed down to a cottage. It's got depth, scope and focus for the reader.

I like to post in the late evening whenever possible, and I tell myself that it's already Monday in Wessex.

Day 2 Summary

Nineteen people, many with skilled occupations, gathered to celebrate the christening. They are a cheerful, relaxed group of friends that give the sense of community.

Shepherd Fennel had married the daughter of a dairyman who came into the marriage with fifty guineas. Shepherdess Fennel was frugal and did not want the christening party to run up a large expense. She felt that her guests might drink too much if they were sitting and relaxing. But they would get hungry for food if they were dancing. So she decided on alternating short dances with short periods of talk and singing. Her husband was very hospitable with no thoughts of whether there would be any food left for tomorrow.

A twelve-year-old boy fiddled while the parish clerk played the musical instrument, the serpent. A dancer bribed the musicians to keep playing a longer set since he was enjoying dancing with his lovely partner. The dancers were described as "performers moving in their planet-like courses, direct and retrograde, from apogee to perigee."

Outside, a man strode through the heavy rain on the path near the cottage. It was nearly the time of a full moon, and the light revealed that he was about forty years old, and gaunt. His clothes were of fustian and his boots hobnailed, but he did not seem to have the bearing of a peasant. As he stood outside the cottage, he noticed a row of beehives, and buckets and pans to catch the rainwater which was needed for household chores in an upland location. He drank from one of the vessels to quench his thirst. Then he lifted his hand to knock on the door, but hesitated as if he was "mentally looking through the door." He surveyed the area and saw no lights coming from the direction that he just came from, and he knocked at the door.

The gathering

settle - a long wooden bench with a back, sometimes having a storage chest underneath.

pourparlors - discussion or negotiation preliminary to an agreement

Indoor Music, Outdoor Percussion

Thomas Hardy played the fiddle as a boy. His father was very musical and taught his son to play the fiddle. The two Hardy fiddlers and his Uncle James, who played the cello, went out to make music for the dancing at weddings and other celebrations in their community. Note the details when Hardy describes the boy playing with small fingers - it comes from personal experience! I won't add any additional information about Hardy's love of fiddling since Bridget will be leading the enticing story, "The Fiddler of the Reels," in August.

The serpent is a low-pitched instrument developed in the Renaissance era with a trombone-like mouthpiece and tone holes (later with keys). It is shaped like a snake, sounds similar to a bassoon or a cornet, and is covered with dark leather. There are some interesting photos on the wiki website:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpent...

Hardy is very descriptive as he writes about the beating, the hiss, and the dripping of the rain outside. It seems like there is a little percussion section outdoors.

Astronomical Imagery

"And so the dance whizzed on with cumulative fury the performers moving in their planet-like courses, direct and retrograde, from apogee to perigee, till the hand of the well-ticked clock at the bottom of the room had traveled over the circumference of an hour."

apogee - in astronomy, the point where the moon is furthest from the earth. This can also refer to a planet's orbit when it is furthest from the sun.

perigee - the point in the orbit of the moon at which it is nearest to the earth. This can also refer to the planet's orbit when it is nearest to the sun.

retrograde - moving backwards

In addition to the dancers, the clock is also in motion, and an hour is based on the earth's daily rotation. I love all the movement and astronomical imagery in this sentence!

This is almost the night of the full moon! This makes me anxious to see what will happen next.

The First Stranger

gaunt - lean and haggard, especially because of suffering, hunger, or age.

fustian - thick, durable twilled cloth with a short nap, dyed in dark colors.

hobnailed boots - a short, heavy-headed nail is used to reinforce the soles of boots. The hobnails increase the durability of boot soles or provide traction on soft or rocky terrain.

I would love to see your reactions to this part of the story!

Fantastic info as ever, thanks Connie! I'm going to have to come back to this, but just wanted to say what a great cliffhanger you have left us with! It was all I could do to stop reading (I can't remember this story - or not yet!) and how much I loved the descriptive passages.

I was immensely pleased to see mention of the serpent! The most recent time I heard this was at an "Open Gardens" day (do you have these?) in a beautiful large garden which the owner had opened for charity. It was a beautifully sunny day, and everything was still, with insects buzzing and birds singing - and then I heard the sound in the distance before I saw it, and wondered what the heck that booming intrument was! I could tell it was woodwind, and part of a trio, but little else.

The first time I'd ever heard of one was in a cartoon by Gerald Hoffnung. Here it is: a musician being devoured by the serpent he is trying to play:



But the unmistakeable sound of the serpent adds to the atmosphere, and gosh yes, that full moon:

"the sky was lined with a uniform sheet of dripping cloud, ordinary objects out of doors were readily visible".

As I read today, I felt that someone was reading this to me; the sense of being there: it was so powerful that all my senses were heightened.

Oh, I seem to have written quite a lot 🙄

I love the cartoon, Jean! We do have Open Gardens to raise money for charity here, often sponsored by various Garden Clubs. What a treat to have heard the serpent!

I agree with you that Hardy really takes us to the cottage with his sensual descriptions, and we almost feel like part of the gathered group.

Petra, what an interesting (and spot-on) thought about the crossroads as a symbol of choice! Crossroads are magical, and thus, sometimes dangerous.
And look, it's the night of the Full Moon! :) (Almost).

Connie, huh, since everybody has noticed these crooks, I wonder if they're a kind of Chekhov's gun :)
Love your comment about percussion outdoors! Thank you for pointing this out.

Bridget, I agree with what you say here: 'starting with the widest possible lens and slowly bringing the reader into the cottage beside the hearth' - quite cinematic, isn't it?

I agree with Jean, we're left with a cliffhanger here! The stranger is creepy. My guess is, the shepherd will not turn the man out, though.
It's hinted that the man is not wearing his usual clothes and boots, isn't it?

We can see that the shepherd's family is very prudent: they grow cabbage (a lot can be said about the advantages of growing cabbage :)), they have beehives, and they collect rainwater.

Poor Mrs. Fennel, the party has not quite been going according to her plan so far, and I'm afraid it's going to get more off-kilter. Her little hints to the musicians make one smile :)

Good thoughts, Plateresca! Even though the Fennels seem to be doing OK, I have a feeling that Mrs Fennel's frugality plus her hard work in growing a garden, keeping bees, and collecting rainwater, as you pointed out, are necessary in an agrarian environment.

I never thought about the crooks as Chekhov's gun. I just enjoy art history, including beautiful crafts. But they would be a great weapon! Who knows what will be needed with three strangers coming to the door??? It's fun to speculate!

I really enjoyed the party scene. Everyone is having such a good time, while Mrs. Fennel tries to keep things frugal. LOL. She's fighting a losing battle with the odds being about 1:19. LOL.
The scene felt warm and friendly and cozy. This scene is such a sharp contrast to what's happening outside.

Then along comes a stranger. Where does he fit in? Into the cold, dark part of this story or the warm, cozy part? He seems timid, being quite hesitant to knock on the door. I'm wondering why he's wandering about in such horrid weather.
It's quite an interesting spot to leave off today, Connie.

Thanks for the information on the serpent. I've never heard or seen such an instrument. It's certainly unique.
Jean, the cartoon is priceless.

Petra wrote: "I really enjoyed the party scene. Everyone is having such a good time, while Mrs. Fennel tries to keep things frugal. LOL. She's fighting a losing battle with the odds being about 1:19. LOL.
The s..."

I had also never heard of a serpent before, Petra. I had to read that section a few times to understand that Hardy was actually writing about an instrument.

I think you're right about Mrs Fennel keeping things frugal. She doesn't stand a chance if her husband is pouring the drinks.

You're asking good questions about the stranger. It makes me realize how we are living in such different times. I can't imagine many of us letting a stranger into our home, no questions asked, in today's world.

Day 3 Summary

The shepherd said, "Walk in!" after the gaunt stranger knocked. The man's hat hung low over his eyes, hiding his appearance until he checked out the people around the room. The shepherd invited him by a gesture to a pull at the shared mug. The stranger asked to take a seat in the chimney-corner to dry out after walking in the rain.

When he noticed the shepherd's wife looking at his boots, he said he had some tough times lately so his boots were cracked and his clothes were not well-fitted. He avoids any conversation with Mrs Fennel about his accent or origins. The stranger asked for a little tobacco and a pipe since he must have dropped it on the trail. The shepherd was surprised that the man had lost both his pipe and tobacco box, but he was generous with his supply.

There is a spirit of warmth among the neighbors in the cottage.

Glossary:

vamp - upper part of a shoe or boot

baccy - slang for tobacco

Shepherd Fennel's Cottage, Higher Crowstairs, frontispiece for Wessex Tales by Henry Macbeth-Raeburn. Hardy's Family Cottage at Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, served as the model for this illustration.

Imaged scanned by Philip V. Allingham

https://victorianweb.org/art/illustra...

Shepherd Fennel's cottage was modeled on Hardy's childhood home.

Photo by Philip V. Allingham
https://victorianweb.org/photos/hardy...

The artist for the illustration, "Shepherd Fennel's Cottage, Higher Crowstairs," was Henry Macbeth-Raeburn (1860-1947). He was a Scottish painter and printmaker who came from an artistic family.

https://suffolkartists.co.uk/index.cg...

Sorry I’m a little late coming to the second read. Connie, I love your thinking that it’s daytime in Wessex when you post from the U.S at night, that’s brilliant.

I really enjoyed reading about the conviviality at this party. I wish I could be there with them all. It was great to see another fiddler show up (thank you Connie for leaving us space to talk more about that when we get to The Fiddler of the Reels). I’m grateful for the links and cartoon about the Serpent instrument. That was a new one for me!

I’m so so curious about this gaunt, older man knocking at the door. Can’t wait to read more.

Bridget wrote: "Sorry I’m a little late coming to the second read. Connie, I love your thinking that it’s daytime in Wessex when you post from the U.S at night, that’s brilliant.

I really enjoyed reading about t..."

I'm curious about this stranger, too, and why he is avoiding Mrs Fennel's questions.

Yes! He said he was in search of shelter from the weather, and in such an exposed place, and with plenty of family and friends there, I'm not surprised they made him welcome. We can see how kind they all are too, sharing their "baccy".

But the stranger seemed to sum the place up before he entered - whereas if he had been in dire need of shelter, surely he would not have paused. And why is he so badly provided for, not having his own tobacco pouch, and worn shoes? Strong boots are a necessity in this sort of terrain.

Thank for the lovely extras Connie - I recognised the cottage immediately, see the first post LINK HERE

I've been wondering where "Higher Crowstairs" might be, but it's hard to pin down. F.P. Pitfield in Hardy's Wessex locations origianally suggested “the most likely site for Shepherd Fennel's Cottage is at Fiddler’s Green, where a ruined cottage still stands”, and that seems to be the current view.

There's an article in the Dorset Echo newspaper here https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/fea...

Bionic Jean wrote: "But the stranger seemed to sum the place up before he entered."

I agree, the stranger's behavior was odd as he came into the house. He took his time removing his hat and he takes in the scene with a "flash" and not a glance. On the one hand, I sympathize with being shy on entering a strange home, particularly when one is not dressed well. But on the other hand, even today, its normal to doff one's cap when entering a house.

Its very curious that he doesn't have a pipe or a tobacco box.

Great pictures and illustrations Connie. Thanks for the links too (Connie and Jean). Enjoyed them very much.

Jean, are those your personal photographs that you snapped when you were visiting the Hardy cottage? Your visit sounds like a wonderful experience.

The stranger does seem to be impoverished since he has a gaunt frame, and clothes that don't fit him well. It must have been very difficult walking in the mud in that rainy weather with boots with cracks in the leather.

Yes, the group at the cottage was very welcoming. I imagine most of the friends and family have known each other since they were children in an isolated community. Since Hardy was a part of so many community events when he and his father were fiddling, he captured that spirit very well.

Jean, thanks for the information about the ruined cottage at Fiddler's Green. For anyone familiar with the area, the Thomas Hardy Society has a map of walks in the area. I was unable to get a direct link, but if you google "thomas hardy society, explore dorchester's timeless land" it will bring you to a six-page media brochure with a map.

Day 4 - Summary

There was another knock at the cottage door, and the man in the chimney-corner took up the poker and began stirring the embers "as if doing it thoroughly were the one aim of his existence." The shepherd welcomed a second stranger who looked slightly older and more urban than the first stranger. He was dressed in a grey suit and a greatcoat, and asked for shelter from the rain before he continued to Casterbridge. He sat next to the first stranger who handed him the huge family mug.

The frugal shepherd's wife was not happy when he drained the big mug, praising the excellent mead. He saw the bee hives as he walked in, and was glad to see that she make mead from the honey.

He has to start work at Casterbridge by eight tomorrow morning, but asks for one last drink before he departs. He refuses her poorer grade mead with less alcohol, and wants the best. This is a source of conflict between the frugal wife and the generous shepherd, but Mrs Fennel gives him a small cup of the stronger mead.

The shepherd again asks the second stranger about his occupation in Casterbridge.

Glossary

toper - a heavy drinker of alcohol

Casterbridge - represents Dorchester

Mead and Metheglin

mead - an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey mixed with water (and yeast), and sometimes other ingredients such as fruits, spices, grains, or hops.

This wiki article tells about the different types of mead, and the process of making it:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mead

metheglin - a flavored mead. Sometimes tea leaves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and herbs are added for medicinal purposes.

A lighthearted article about making metheglin at home with honey and a different group of herbs:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandst...

No running down to the nearest liquor store for the Fennels! Mrs Fennel had to tend her bees, gather the honey, sterilize all the jars and other equipment, and go through a long process of fermenting the mead.

Have any of you ever tried mead?

Over to you for your thoughts on this part of the story , , ,