Re: Ancient sites in literature | Forum

Ancient sites in literature

more_vert

Rhiannon Jan 7, 2004 09:23:00

Replying to BrigantesNation

Thomas Hardy's 'Mayor of Casterbridge' has Maumbury Rings in it as a meeting place. 'Tess of the Durbervilles' has Stonehenge. I'm sure his other books, being based in 'Wessex' have other sites in them (but I haven't read any others)

William Mayne's 'Earthfasts' books have standing stones in them (but I don't think they're any real ones in particular). I don't know if you'd include him if you want classic 'literature' but he's a longstanding and respected children's author.

Kammer Jan 7, 2004 09:45:35

Replying to Rhiannon

> I'm sure his other books, being based in 'Wessex'
> have other sites in them (but I haven't read any others)

I did a very poor thesis on Hardy, and to my knowledge there aren't any other references to prehistoric sites in his work. It was a shonky bit of work, so I might be wrong. I'll ask some literary types (more than wot I is).

K x

Chris Collyer Jan 7, 2004 09:52:27

Replying to Rhiannon

You pipped me to the Hardy references, but I'm sure Maiden Castle hillfort also appears in 'Far from the madding crowd' and various barrows crop up in several of his books.

-Chris

Rhiannon Jan 7, 2004 16:17:43

Replying to Rhiannon

and about Maumbury rings -

"Melancholy, impressive, lonely, yet accessible from every part of the town, the [can't read my writing] circle was the frequent spot for appointments of a furtive kind. Intrigues were arranged there; tentative meetings were there experimented after divisions and feuds."

Did you see it on the tv programme at christmas? The beautifully crafted anti-erosion steps looked a bit out of place.