[Hardy-l] Findon Sheep Fair

[Rosemarie Morgan]

Just to be accurate about Bob's LINKS. He only discredited a site where was 
evidence to do so.  Trust me -- we conferred on these things. Many site 
have mispellings -- indeed Nichols has only with one "l" (online) whereas I 
believe there are 2.

I'm sure you receive--as I do, Keith -- any amount of undocumented letters, 
photos and so on making various claims about TH. Investigating them is 
arduous but usually brings in enough evidence to either verify or discredit 
them.  The Findon site was  (for me) the  first I had known of Hardy's 
visits there to see Eliza, aside from Millgate's vague "It is not 
impossible that Hardy met Eliza while she was in Kimmeridge..." -- this 
following, rather oddly, a reference to her family's retirement to *Findo* 
and the sheep fairs.

I find this all very valuable --your contributions also-- since there is so 
very much that is missing in Hardy's biographies (Millgate refers to an 
"engagement" but gives little detail). But I haven't pursued all the 
biographies so it's possible others have more background. For me "Findon" 
was a first. I found it particularly interesting since TH mentions none of 
this in the Life and his omissions (sometimes augmented  by mention of a 
poem by way of substitute) are oftentimes very telling indeed.

I apologise for throwing in "Neutral Tones"  (written at TH's time with 
Eliza as also the "She to Him" poems - but  I don't have time at this 
juncture to write a full  research essay on the subject.
Best
Rosemarie

At 09:57 AM 9/2/2008, you wrote:
>Perhaps I misunderstood.  I assumed your comment (see below) about "the 
>most substantial account" related to Hardy's love affair with Eliza 
>Nicholls and referred to the account on the website in question.
>Best,
>Keith
>