THE DORSET COUNTY MUSEUM
High West Street, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1XA,
Great Britain
Telephone + 1305 262735 Fax + 1305 257180
A Writer's Dorset
The Dorset County Museum houses many rare and intriguing objects from the world's finest Thomas Hardy collection and in July 1997 opened new galleries about Hardy and the writers of Dorset. On display are paintings (R.G.Eves' 1923 Portrait of Hardy), personal belongings -- and original manuscripts of Hardy's great works. Here you can also step inside Thomas Hardy's study; come face to face to the eerie Ooser; follow the Dorset riddler trail; try computer interactives' hear poetry and meet Hardy's fellow writers: William Barnes the Dorset poet, the Powys brothers, Sylvia Townsend Warner and Jane Austen.
The galleries are open from 10 am to 5 pm Monday to Saturday, and also on Sundays in July and August. The research collections can be viewed by prior appointment.
Moments of Love
A special signed edition of Hardy's love poems to Emma has been published this year under the title "Moments of Love"
The edition, of 157 copies only, contains 47 pages in high quality facsimile of Hardy's handwritten poems with 65 printed pages of parallel text. There is a scholarly introduction by Dr James Gibson and a Foreword by the Earl of Stockton. Every copy includes a genuine, unique signature by Thomas Hardy. The autographs were prepared by the author in 1927 for a signed edition of one of his novels which was never issued.
Moments of Love is quarter bound with green leather and cloth boards, gilded on three edges, blocked real gold on the spine and packed in a cloth slip-case. it is printed by the Senecio Press, Charlbury, Oxford, and is obtainable by insured post on receipt of £275 sterling, by sterling check or money order, at the Dorset County Museum at the above address.
The Dorset County Museum
Step inside the Museum to explore the county's history, archaeology, geology and wildlife. Visit one of the largest prehistoric and Roman collections outside the British Museum. Discover real dinosaur footprints, fine fossils and marvellous Roman mosaics. See the fine art collection and the changing shows of modern painting and sculpture in the stylish exhibition gallery. Take part in the regular events and lectures. No trip to Hardy country is complete without a visit!
