HARDY COUNTRY. By Gordon Beningfield. Text by Anthea Zeman.

(1983) 1983 reprint. Square 4to (278 x 26mm). Pp141(pagination includes boards and eps). Colour paintings and b/w sketches by Gordon Beningfield, pictorial end-papers. Light tan paper-covered boards.

"Introduction and captions by Gordon Beningfield. Text by Anthea Zeman". This book is the second of Gordon Beningfield's perennially popular books. In this book, Beningfield presents paintings and sketches of parts of Dorset used by Thomas Hardy in his novels. Beningfield presents the current aspect of those places (at time of publication) which most resemble how they would have looked at the beginning of the nineteenth century when providing the setting for Hardy's stories. A great book. Chapters include: thomas Hardy and his work; Hardy's Wessex; The past preserved; The people of the countryside; Towns; town and country.