The Group began with a study of Hardy's novels of character and environmemt, concentrating on The Return of the Native.

We now move on to his poetry, which Hardy always considered his first love. However, he had written fourteen novels and over forty short stories before he abandoned prose fiction, At the age of fifty eight he began a remarkable second literary career as a poet. It lasted for nearly three decades and produced over 900 poems.

Inspired by our visit to Dorchester we shall be including a study of the Mayor of Casterbridge this year.