Select Poems by Thomas Hardy

In this meet-up we will be discussing select poetry from Thomas Hardy, across five eras which roughly follow Hardy's evolution and thematic phases. If there is a poem that really touched you, I implore you to recite it during our meet-up. Each title will have a hyperlink to the poem:

I) Some of his early work - fatalism and life's ironies play largely:

1. Hap
2. The Dead Man Walking
3. The Ruined Maid
4. A Sheep Fair
5. The Levelled Churchyard
6. In Tenebris

II) His pessimism, underscoring themes of war and cosmic irony:

7. Drummer Hodge
8. The Man He Killed
9. The Convergence of the Twain
10. God's Funeral
11. And There Was a Great Calm

III) Nature's indifference and Life's Transience:

12. The Darkling Thrush
13. Great Things
14. The Oxen
15. To Life
16. Wessex Heights
17. I Look Up From My Writing

IV) Poems written after his wife's, Emma, death:

18. The Going
19. The Voice
20. Beeny Cliff
21. At Castle Boterel
22. The Walk
23. How Great My Grief
24. Her Initials
25. He Prefers Her Earthly

V) Metaphysical Reflections:

26. The Curates Kindness
27. The Forbidden Banns
28. Tess's Lament
29. He Never Expected Much

We will be meeting at the following location:

Romanella Cucina Romana
3055 Clairemont Dr
San Diego, CA 92117

We have reserved a private room with a limit of 12 spots, so please sign up in order to secure a seat.

You are NOT obligated to purchase food or drink. Please, at the very least, enjoy our company and our (mostly coherent) rabble.