Download or read book A Distant Prospect of Wessex: Archaeology and the Past in the Life and Works of Thomas Hardy. written by Martin J. P. Davies and published by Archaeopress Publishing Ltd. This book was released on 2011-08-15 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Martin Davies examines Thomas Hardy's involvement with the past and the role it plays in his life and literary work. Hardy's life encompasses the transformation of archaeology out of mere antiquarianism into a fully scientific discipline. He observed this process at first hand, and its impact on his aesthetic and philosophical scheme was profound.