Thomas Hardy, Monism, and the Carnival Tradition: The One and Many in 'The Dynasts'.(Book Review)

Publication: The Modern Language Review

Publication Date: 01-JUL-04

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COPYRIGHT 2004 Modern Humanities Research Association

Thomas Hardy, Monism, and the Carnival Tradition: The One and Many in 'The Dynasts'. By G. GLEN WICKENS. Toronto, Buffalo, NY, and London: University of Toronto Press. 2002. xix+255 pp. $60; 40 [pounds sterling]. ISBN 0-8020-4864-1.

G. Glen Wickens's aim in writing this book is 'not to restore the "great" reputation of The Dynasts, but rather to bring it up close enough to be read and appreciated within the carnival tradition' (p. xix). Bakhtin and Hardy are placed in a mutually beneficial relationship here although the benefits Hardy's last 'major' work gains from Bakhtin are far greater than the other way around. While Wickens suggests that Bakhtin functions...

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