The Short Stories of Thomas Hardy, Thomas Hardy — 1st Collected Edition

£47.50

The Short Stories of Thomas Hardy, Thomas Hardy — 1st Collected Edition

Name: The Short Stories of Thomas Hardy, Thomas Hardy — 1st Collected Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5120
Price: 47.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1928

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [viii], 1076.

Condition Report: Very Good. The publisher’s original maroon cloth binding remains tight and structurally sound, though it exhibits typical sunning to the spine, which has slightly mellowed the deep red hue and dulled the gilt lettering. The boards themselves are remarkably clean and smart, presenting very well beneath a protective sleeve. Internally, the volume is bright and highly preserved. The page block edges display minor, age-appropriate toning, but the text block itself is exceptionally crisp, free from significant foxing, moisture damage, or loose leaves. An attractive, sturdy survivor of a substantial volume.

Catalogue Note: This is the First Collected Edition of Thomas Hardy's short stories, published posthumously in March 1928, shortly after the author's death earlier that same year. It represents the first time his four major collections of short fiction, Wessex Tales, Life's Little Ironies, A Group of Noble Dames, and A Changed Man and Other Tales, were brought together into a single, comprehensive volume.

Issued in the publisher's dark maroon cloth with blind-stamped devices, this edition is notable for gathering Hardy's shorter works into one accessible format. As a first printing of a thick, heavily read omnibus edition, surviving copies that remain tightly bound and free from significant structural wear are becoming increasingly uncommon on the open market, making this an appealing acquisition for the Hardy enthusiast.

Bringing together over forty of Thomas Hardy’s masterful short narratives, this expansive volume immerses the reader in the unforgiving, yet beautifully rendered, landscape of Wessex. From the dark, rural folklore of The Withered Arm to the quiet domestic tragedies of Life's Little Ironies, Hardy's tales explore the inescapable forces of fate, chance, and human frailty. These stories serve as perfect distillations of the tragic irony and profound pastoral melancholy that defined his longer novels, offering a rich tapestry of nineteenth-century provincial life.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Thomas Hardy

Book Publisher: Macmillan and Co., Limited

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Anthologies & Short Stories

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 1076

Book Publication Year: 1928

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.