Since 1895, Thomas Hardy has written no fiction. The standard
edition of his works is published in this country by the
Harpers. Recently this firm has issued Hardy in a convenient
thin paper edition which may be slipped into the coat pocket.
His first novel, _Desperate Remedies_, appeared in 1871 but it
was not until the issue of _Far From the Madding Crowd_ in
1874 that he gained popular fame. Many magazine articles have
been written on the "corner of Dorsetshire" which Hardy calls
Wessex. Good books on the Hardy country are _The Wessex of
Romance_, by W. Sherren, and _The Wessex of Thomas Hardy_, by
Windle.