The wide-ranging and lively essays in Reading Thomas Hardy will appeal to anyone interested in Hardy. Specialists and Hardy enthusiasts will find a showcase for the work of many of the world's leading Hardy scholars. Subjects covered include Hardy the writer and Hardy the man, individual texts and wider themes, and Hardy's relationships to other artists. Whether presenting new research, embodying the best of traditional approaches, or challenging the reader with new interpretations, all the papers are authoritative and accessible.

The essays collected in Celebrating Thomas Hardy include both scholarly studies by leading academics and personal appreciations by perceptive readers and writers. The volume is therefore both a substantial contribution to Hardy studies, which will be valuable to students and academics, and an approachable companion to Hardy for enthusiasts. Responding with a wide variety of subjects and approaches to Hardy's varied 'voices', the volume particularly emphasises Hardy's connections with other writers, from John Clare to Toni Morrison.