Headpiece [Dorchester High Street]

Alfred Parsons

March 1891

Lithograph

12 cm high by 12.3 cm wide

Scanned image, caption, and commentary by Philip V. Allingham

[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the person who scanned the image and (2) link your document tothis URL.]

This introductory plate establishes the real counterpart of Hardy's "Casterbridge," Dorchester, as the setting for the framed tales that the various passengers in Mr. Burthen's van tell the recently returned John Lackland. Since Tony Kytes, the protagonist of the first story, is also a carrier, and the headpiece contains a number of carriers' vans (right), it serves as both a headpiece to introduce all nine stories and an illustration of sorts for the first story, the most humorous of the lot.

References

Hardy, Thomas. "Wessex Folk" (subsequently renamed "A Few Crusted Characters"). Harper's New Monthly Magazine (March 1891): 587.

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Last modified 1 June 2008