MS 684 01 01 02

MS 684 01 01 02

Thomas Hardy collection: Autograph manuscript of 'The Forsaking of the Nest'

Item

[1911?]

1 manuscript

Autograph manuscript of 'The Forsaking of the Nest'. It is also a working draft in black ink of 'The Third Kissing Gate', here titled 'The Three Kissing Gates'. 'The Third Kissing Gate' is a later, shortened version of 'The Forsaking of the Nest'. The manuscript is Hardy's first version of the original poem that he has extensively revised into the second version. There are copious autograph deletions and revisions in pencil, also inscribed "Sent by request for publication in Nash's Magazine, 23 July 1911" in Hardy's hand at top. 1 page, 4to, on lined exercise book paper with pinholes. 'The Forsaking of the Nest' was printed in Nash's Magazine, February 1912. Four of the stanzas were later revised and incorporated in the five stanza poem 'The Third Kissing Gate', which was printed in the Daily Telegraph, 30 July 1928, and in Winter Words (1928). A fair copy manuscript of the first version of the poem is in the Library of Congress and a fair copy of the second version is in the manuscript of Winter Words in Queen's College, Oxford.

In navy cloth slipcase with two other autograph manuscripts: 'Gallant's Song' and 'He Fears His Good-Fortune'.