[hardy-l] RE: Hardy-l Digest, Vol 42, Issue 1

Sun Mar 1 18:51:21 PST 2009

Dear Betty/Rosemarie

Thank you so much for the suggestions. I feel like as if I am not alone in my pursuit to study, understand and appreciate one of the greatest writiers of 19th century Thomas Hardy. 

I have alredy made a list of words that I found particulay difficult and not so difficult. Since English is not my mother tongue I thought it wise to check even those words which are familiar and about whom I have some knowledge.

 Another thing I wanted to discuss here was if taking help from sparknotes.com would be wise thing to do or not. My sense of literature is very bad and more often than not I fail to understand the significance of events or happenings. Then I have a difficulty in understanding culture prevalent in those times and the geographical and historical details too.

Its like  I am facing mountain of dificulties but its just the begining and I am sure if I start moving things will gradually become less and less difficult. Your replies have stregenthed my resolve to continue with Hardy and I will not rest until I have achieved my aim.

Thank you so much to all of you.

Thanks, Indeed

WARM Regards

arvind raina

> From: hardy-l-request at coyote.csusm.edu
> Subject: Hardy-l Digest, Vol 42, Issue 1
> To: hardy-l at coyote.csusm.edu
> Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 12:00:02 -0800
> 
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> Today's Topics:
> 
> 1. meetin up in Toronto (Arthur Efron)
> 2. Query (Betty Cortus)
> 3. Re: Query (Rosemarie Morgan)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:24:29 -0500
> From: Arthur Efron <efron at buffalo.edu>
> Subject: [hardy-l] meetin up in Toronto
> To: hardy-l at coyote.csusm.edu
> Message-ID: <49A9AB8D.3020701 at buffalo.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
> 
> YES we are coming. We'll arrive Friday in the afternoon and stay at the 
> Best Western Primrose. We leave on Sundy morning. That evening we have 
> guests coming to our house. But I think Ruth and I will be able to visit 
> with you and Pat some of the time during Fri-Sat.
> 
> I came home from Barnes and Noble a few hours go with a book in hand on 
> Rocks and Fossils, how to know 'em. This is for me, and also for me to 
> become closer to you and Pat.
> 
> Love,
> 
> --Art
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 07:14:10 -0800
> From: Betty Cortus <bcortus at hardy-l.com>
> Subject: [hardy-l] Query
> To: HARDY-L <hardy-l at coyote.csusm.edu>
> Message-ID: <95F0CA75-CE6F-4179-B663-051D3668B38E at hardy-l.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> 
> Dear All,
> This message came to me from a new Forum Member. I will respond to 
> it below, and invite others to respond as well.
> Thanks,
> Betty
> 
> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> > From: Arvind raina <peas_n_ponds at hotmail.com>
> > Date: February 28, 2009 7:00:50 PM PST
> > To: <bcortus at hardy-l.com>
> > Cc: <ttha at st-andrews.ac.uk>
> > Subject: query
> >
> > Dear Sir/Ma'am
> >
> > I have just finished reading Jude the Obscure and now planning to 
> > start Return of the Native. I enjoy reading his novels but find 
> > Hardy's language particulary difficult. I intend to read all the 
> > works of Hardy but in a way that I understand each and everything 
> > mention in it.
> >
> > Hence, I am just about to start finding the meanings of words and 
> > phrases used in his writings, which is going to be a long journey.
> >
> > I would appreciate if you could throw some light on Hardys way of 
> > writing and his times and the language so it is easy for me to 
> > understand what I am reading. I am 38 with no knowlegde of 
> > literature. This is the first time I read Hardy' novel and I really 
> > liked it. wish to finish them all one by one. Need help.
> >
> > Thanks, Indeed
> > Warm Regards
> > Arvind Raina
> > 9871368348
> 
> Dear Arvind,
> 
> A hearty welcome to the Hardy Forum Discussion Group, and 
> congratulations on choosing to study Hardy's work! You have come to 
> the right place in joining our Discussion Group. Our members range 
> from newcomers to Hardy like yourself, to seasoned scholars. We are 
> a friendly lot, and only too happy to answer even the most basic 
> questions, so please feel comfortable directing your questions to 
> this list.
> 
> Here are some other suggestions for starters:
> 
> Hardy had a very large and rich vocabulary, and although 19th Century 
> English can be difficult for modern readers just starting out, it 
> does become much easier as you go along. Hardy also looked back to 
> words now obsolete, he coined words, and used dialect, or rarely 
> used words in his endeavor to find just the right one for his 
> purpose. Quite a few editions of his novels contain glossaries of 
> these less-common words, and it would be a good idea to look for 
> these before you purchase an edition.
> 
> When I was starting out reading the novels myself, I found it helpful 
> to make lists of unfamiliar words and phrases, take them to the 
> library, and look for them in the multi-volume _Oxford English 
> Dictionary_ which can be found in most good libraries, and is very 
> useful on definitions of obsolete and unusual words.
> 
> There are also some excellent books on this subject if you can locate 
> them. One of these is Ralph W.V. Elliott's Thomas Hardy's English, 
> and another is F. B Pinion's A Thomas Hardy Dictionary.
> 
> However, finally, I will go back to my original suggestion, do make 
> use of the accrued knowledge to be found amongst our own Forum 
> members, and do not hesitate to direct your questions right here to us.
> 
> Good luck with your new pursuit, I'm sure you will find it enormously 
> rewarding!
> 
> Betty Cortus, Forum Director
> bcortus at HARDY-L.com
> 
> 
> 
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> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 11:59:49 -0500
> From: Rosemarie Morgan <Rosemarie.morgan at yale.edu>
> Subject: Re: [hardy-l] Query
> To: hardy-l at coyote.csusm.edu
> Message-ID: <6.0.0.22.2.20090301115335.0359ac10 at rm82.mail.yale.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
> 
> Welcome Arvind !
> 
> 
> I would endorse Betty's suggestions but would just add that before you rush 
> to Amazon.com to buy Elliott's *Hardy's English* you should know that it 
> has no index. This makes it hard to use for reference purposes.
> 
> Oh- yes- I would also recommend our page on Dialect Words on TTHA's 
> http://www.yale.edu/hardysoc/Resources/glossary.htm
> All the very best,
> 
> Rosemarie
> 
> 
> >>I have just finished reading Jude the Obscure and now planning to start 
> >>Return of the Native. I I read Hardy' novel and I really liked it. wish 
> >>to finish them all one by one. Need help.
> >>
> >>Thanks, Indeed
> >>Warm Regards
> >>Arvind Raina
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
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> 
> End of Hardy-l Digest, Vol 42, Issue 1
> **************************************
> 

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