UPDATE 14th December
Unfortunately the letters went to those with deeper pockets. Further details are here.
Dorset Archives Trust have launched an appeal for funds to purchase a set of rare Thomas Hardy papers.
The letters are interesting in a number of ways. Firstly, they are unpublished so are new to scholarship – most Hardy letters have been published. They also carry sketches by Hardy and they relate to the formation of words derived from the Dorset dialect.
This detail potentially links back to Hardy’s relationship with William Barnes. The letters, if acquired, would form part of the larger Hardy archive at Dorset History Centre, would be catalogued as part of the project and would be accessible to the public in perpetuity.
The full appeal can be seen in the ‘E-News’ section of the Members’ Area, or at this link.
