Three volumes. First edition in book form. Set during the Napoleonic war, this Wessex novel was written to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Trafalgar and incorporates comic elements to move away from its darker predecessor, The Return of the Native (1878). Hardy weaves together three principal strands in the novel, each reflecting dominant influences in his life at the time. First is his Dorset background, expressed through a strong sense of local memory and familial reminiscence. Second is his historical interest, particularly his close study of the years 1804–5 and the lingering impact of the French Revolution. As Robert Gittings observes, these elements are “firmly woven” into the structure, lending the work both unity and a persuasive realism - qualities Hardy consciously emphasized in response to criticisms of unreality directed at The Return of the Native. A third strand reflects Hardy’s growing engagement with the theatre: the characters are shaped as archetypal figures, akin to those of traditional stage ritual. Influenced by contemporary developments - such as the partnership of Ellen Terry and Henry Irving - Hardy drew on dramatic forms, particularly the Italian commedia dell’arte and its Victorian descendant, the harlequinade. The novel’s structure, encompassing a wide cast, reflects this theatrical patterning. 1/2 calf, marbled boards, rebacked. Covers rubbed; hinges reinforced. Foxing and occasional markings throughout. Without half-titles. Small tears present. Vol. I: heavy markings p. 89; damp staining to the top margin; significant tears pp. 153 and 253. Vol. III: heavy markings p. 251. Vol. I: [4], 295 pp. Vol. II: [4], 276 pp. Vol. III: [4], 259 pp.