Routledge - Cancelled Words: Rediscovering Thomas Hardy

Explore a hidden chapter of literary history with Cancelled Words: Rediscovering Thomas Hardy. This work examines the lost manuscript of Hardy's first great novel, Far From the Madding Crowd, which vanished shortly after its initial publication and was not rediscovered until 1918. This book offers a rare look at the author's original composition and the struggles he faced during the editing process. Through facsimile reproductions of manuscript pages, readers can see the direct results of Hardy's long struggle with his editor, Sir Leslie Stephen. The text reveals the specific words that were reluctantly cancelled, providing a window into Hardy's creative resistance to censorship. This study provides a deep look at his obsessive attention to detail and precision, offering new perspectives on his entire body of work and his unique method of composition.