alas

[Kay]

FFTMC - what can I say? More cheerful than Jude, less weighty than Tess, more interesting than The Return - but let me tell you, not a patch on The Hand of Ethelberta. Ethelberta may be non-canonical Hardy but it's a terrific satire: witty, post-modern and entirely delicious. I leave Bathsheba and fanny to the initiate. Ethelberta and Picotee for me.

[christinam]

I'm a Hardy fan but have never read The Hand of Ethelberta. I have picked up a copy in Oxfam and read the introduction by Robert Gittings which nearly put me off completely. Thank you 'Kay' for your inspiring comments. I am about to start reading with enthusiasm and will comment later.

[kelby_lake]

How did you get on with The Hand of Etherlberta then?