Meet the Author at Waterstones

Thursday 6th November 2025
Starts 18:00 until 20:00
Waterstones, South Street, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1DQ

Event: Meet the Author: Thomas Hardy: 10 Lovers, 50 Poems

Date: Thursday, 6th November 2025

Time: 6pm to 8pm

Venue: Waterstones, South Street, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1DQ

Cost: Free

Please join us to Meet the Author - a free event to include an aperitif, at 6-8pm on Thursday November 6th at Waterstones in Dorchester.

"Thomas Hardy: 10 Lovers, 50 Poems", by Giles Keating, custodian of Athelhampton.

Mark Chutter, Chair of the Thomas Hardy Society, has written the Foreward and will introduce the book, and there will be comments by the author. Both the speakers will also read a short poem and there will be a Q and A.

This is an unusual book: partly an anthology of Hardy's love poems, arranged in chapters each relating to one of his romantic partners; partly a set of extended notes on the poems, both on his poetical methods (in non-technical language) and setting the biographical context of both Hardy and his partners for the verses, including some new research notably on the fate of Eliza Nicholls; and partly a picture-book, with wonderful illustrations by local artist Noah Warnes and still shots from the short films of each poem. These are available online and feature dramatised readings by Dorset actors as well as interviews with Hardy scholars such as author Paula Byrne and Mark himself. They were shot at Athelhampton House by a team led by Howard Payton (who will be present on the 6th).

All welcome - We look forward to welcoming you

Please RSVP