The Hand of Ethelberta Study Day
We celebrate the 150th Anniversary of The Hand of Ethelberta with an enjoyable Study Day. As well as Keynote Speaker, Professor Angelique Richardson, Hardy’s Correspondents project, Exeter University, Department of English and Creative Writing and Victorian Studies, the day will include short papers delivered by Exeter literature students, The New Hardy Players, and end with a harp recital.
The Hand of Ethelberta: A Comedy in Chapters is the fifth published novel by English author Thomas Hardy, published in 1876 and The Thomas Hardy Society will mark the occasion with a special Study Day, exploring the theme and other elements of the book
Subtitled “A Comedy in Chapters,” this novel is unusual for Hardy’s work, which is typically known for its tragic elements. Hardy intended it as a satire of popular romances and the literary world. It was serialized in the Cornhill Magazine and the New York Times from the summer of 1875 to the spring of 1876 and published in book form in 1876.
The story follows Ethelberta, a butler’s daughter who uses her education as a governess to reinvent herself as a society poet in London to support her family secretly. She navigates the attentions of four suitors while trying to maintain her independence and social status.
Contemporary reviews were largely negative, and some critics considered it his “poorest book”. Hardy felt it was misunderstood, suggesting it was ahead of its time.
Itinerary
- 10.00 Registration with tea/coffee
- 10.15 Chair’s Welcome and Overview of Novel
- 10.45 The New Hardy Players (Performance)
- 11.30 Lecture: Alban O’Brien
- 12.30 Lunch Break
- 14.00 Keynote Speaker: Prof Angelique Richardson
- 15.00 Call for Papers: Exeter University Students
- 16.00 Plenary Discussion
- 16.30 Harp Recital
- 17.00 Close
The event includes a walk around Wareham (Hardy’s Anglebury) on Sunday, 12th April 2026
