The Mayor of Casterbridge - any Hardy fans out there?

[ipanemagirl]

What can I say? Am adoring this book so much. I haven't read it for years and had forgotten how beautifully Hardy writes, am i a swoon with it and don't want to do anything but read it til the probably tragic end.
Can't even remember the end! No spoilers though please!

ipanemagirl, I was introduced to Saydisc by a dotty old hippie I know. I now have a nasty little habit
You and your mum could well also enjoy Enchanted Carols, my favourite of them all. Christmas songs and carols played on hurdygurdies, music boxes, street pianos and handbells. Interspersed with brass bands and change-ringing.
The entire fabulous catalogue was unavailable for some years, thank goodness they are back in business

how many albums have you got in total?

(eight )

But have access to pretty much the entire catalogue via work...

Oh yes, Marina. I've just finished reading My Boy Jack: The Search for Kipling's Only Son (Holt) and it is surprising how little his views changed.

Then I remember those lines:

If any question why we died,
Tell them, because our fathers lied.

(This almost falls into the 'more depressing than Hardy' category).

Have you been to Batemans lionheart? It is a very sad place for something so stereotypically and idyllically Englishe.
I had an ancient English teacher (in the 70s and in his 70s) who was reared on Masefield, Thomas, Sassoon (underrated as a writer I have always felt), the Georgians and of course, the War Poets. He really rated Kipling, hence the school trip to Batemans. Unfortunately he also liked RS Thomas . Still, he introduced me to Robert Graves so on balance I'm grateful

I haven't, but I should.

Graves for Thomas, not too bad a trade off, I suppose.

(I foist Blunden on my students, they hate it) .

oh. no time to read whole thread. i adore Thmas Hardy, I adore Jude the Obscure.

I have spent the evening indulging myself on youtube with bucolic folk music..!

''Done because we are too meny...''oohhhhh....

Oh god the Enchanted Carols! I used that for my toddler group Christmas party this year; the hurdy gurdy was hilarious. We had them all tinging triangles and so on, along with the music

Yes, ipanemegirl, Hardy had a troubled first marriage and fell in love with her after she died (guilt?) hence his poetry. I agree with Stephen Fry. A Pair of Blue Eyes (novel) is meant to be auto-biographical.

Some of his short stories are great especially Life's Little Ironies volume and if you fancy a change from the novels of character and environment, The Hand of Ethelberta is worth the challenge.

Re Jude, Hardy originally wanted to call it The Idiots ...

But Franny, since you bring it up, have you made your singing day-boo yet?

(And didn't that singing thread also start of with a bravado display of a erm, somewhat morbid streak?)

I haven't brought it up at all!!

(no, I was kind of horrified by the response on here, and didn't go....there is another one coming up but I am trying to ignore it )

Oh and in response to OP, yes HUGE Hardy fan, in case you hadn't guessed

You kind of did, well, with the folksy reference. And anyway, I've been dying to ask.

I thought the horror related to the choice of song rather than the task itself?

But I really wanted to sing that song, and everyone without exception was horrified or greatly amused

it made me kind of doubt my judgement on the entire affair

I thought it would have been very moving and anyway, where's the rule that says it has to be .

another hardy fan signing in.

Done because we are too meny....

Filthymvix - I've just realised where that's from (only seen film not read book)
It's TOO SAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But I haven't finished the M of Cast yet so I don't know how tragic it's going to be sigh - but it is pleasure to read it.......

I read this when I was 16yo waiting for my O'level results. I went to the library, saw it and thought I would give it a whirl. Wonderful book.

Hope the results cheered you up, at least.

was thinking of you last night F&Z when pondering the possibility of me learning this song to sing at a folk night....it's grim beauty really gets me in the solar plexus

Blood and Gold/Mohacs - Silly Sisters

On rides a captain and 300 soldier lads
Out of the morning mist and thro' the silent snow
Whistling gaily rides the captain at their head
Behind him soldier boys sadly weeping go
O lads of mine weep no more
You are gone to kill and die

For when you took my gold and swore to follow me
You sold away your lives and your liberty
No more you'll till the soil, no more you'll work the land
No more to the dance you'll go and take girls by the hand

O mother weep for your son
He is gone to kill and die

You'll weep, you'll die by the keen edge of the sword
You'll all go in the fire there'll be no hiding place
O mother hear the drumbeat in the village square
O mother that drums for me to go for a soldier there

Mothers sisters wives, weep for us
Marked as Cain we lie alone

haven't read this whole thrad but Casterbridge is fabulous - just wonderful. Cannot cope with Jude though - just too dark and harrowing.

Ooh yes, FMF, do sing it

We should start a "We love feeling really vicariously depressed by art" thread.

My favourite Christmas carol is the Coventry carol. I blub lots.

Bethlehem Down gets me every time

I remember crying for half an hour after reading The Mayor of Casterbridge. Really sobbing