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| The Hardy Tree London St. Pancras Tree Literature of the Victorian era was strange. It was both romantic and humorous; it also dealt with serious social issues. I do not pretend to be an expert at all. What interests me, though, is the literature that I did not read until I was in college. This author is Thomas Hardy. Thomas Hardy strayed from the acceptable to eyebrow raising literature. During this era, women were chattel and sexuality was whispered about in closed rooms or closets. Hardy's work was exciting, just the ticket for a suppressed/oppressed/depressed society. His most known work is Tess d'Urbervilles, a book about a fallen woman. The real scandalous book Jude the Obscure was sold in brown paper bags. One would think that this comprised the entirety of Thomas Hardy's talent. But, no. Thomas Hardy studied to be an architect, did so well that he won major prizes from the Royal Institute of British Architects. His success captured lots of attention and his work still is admired today. Here is the most amazing bit of his history: He was commissioned to excavate part of the graveyard of St. Pancras Old Church before its destruction to make room for the Midland Railway terminus. By golly, Hardy was creative to the point that he will be remembered by many just for this by many generations.
Removing centuries of decayed bodies was deemed impossible, Hardy designed a way to honor them by collecting headstones and displaying them around an ash tree. The tree has since started growing into the headstones. The bodies were carefully and respectively removed. Now, St. Pancras Old Church is a music venue in this 4th Century Church, which is just behind King's Cross station.
Thomas Hardy was a man of many talents. Who knew?
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Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Where a Tree Grows
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That is really a wondrous idea to honor the departed by planting the headstones near a tree. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a creative mind! There are much of his work throughout England, all respected and surprising.
DeleteThose are headstones? Really ingenious. And wild!
ReplyDeleteWhen I found that they were headstones, I was both aghast and amazed.
DeleteI'm with Alex! I studied the photo for a few minutes before reading, I had plenty ideas, but none were headstones. LOL A pleasant read and history lesson. REAL multi-talents always amaze me. I like this.
ReplyDeleteSherry & jack
PS I am always surprised at how some literature (subjects) were treated thru the centuries. (thanks)
That time period was dark when it came to the lower classes.
DeleteI THOUGHT they were headstones, but couldn't figure out why they'd be arranged like that. I love how they have the same mossy color as the tree. The tree looks like it belongs there, sprouting from the headstones.
ReplyDeleteClustering the stones around the tree was brilliant.
DeleteThough I have not read through all his major novels I find Hardy to be a superb writer. I thought that Tess d'Urbervilles was magnificent in its bleakness.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fascinating piece of history. Thanks for sharing.
Tess d'Ubervilles made me angry in that her future was as you said bleak, though no fault of her own.
DeleteThe placement of the headstones is genius. What an artistic way to honor the dead who had to be moved.
ReplyDeleteIt was a creative solution, for sure.
DeleteI loathe his writing. His symbolism is just too much for me - a piece of bloodstained butcher paper blowing across Tess's path as a symbol that all is not well? My partner loves his work and he still have most of his Wessex novels but they are not for me.
ReplyDeleteI loved hearing about the respectful excavation of the graves though, and the lovely display of the stones. I like even more that the tree is claiming them. Thank you.
Like you, his work was too dark and disturbing. In fact, it made me angry.
DeleteThe headstones around that tree... *shudders* I don't know why, but I find that look very creepy. (I'm a bit strange with some things, so...)
ReplyDeleteNo, when I saw the photo somewhere, I was creeped out as well. But it was a creative solution.
DeleteI would never have guessed they were head stones. Rather clever way to handle a sticky problem. Not familiar with Mr. Hardy but will check him out after reading about him. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHe is a bit of a hard read. I started Tess, read a good part of it, and then was angry.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome that he found a way to honor those who had passed. My mom said The Scarlet Letter was scandalous, so of course I wanted to read it. I never did though! Now I don't wanna... I like non-fiction when I have time to read. :)
ReplyDeleteI fluctuate in my reading choices.
DeleteAs other’s have said, the headstone tree is genius.
ReplyDeleteWho would think of such, besides Hardy.
DeleteThe Hardy tree is incredible.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely it is a piece of art.
DeleteI'm so mad at myself for not going to the Old Church when I was so near St. Pancras on my last trip. I read a lot about it in one of my Bryant and May mysteries by Christopher Fowler. Have you read those? They're fascinating. And then to see this. Well, there's always England 2020!
ReplyDeleteHave never read them. Now I should.
DeleteHardy certainly came up with an ingenious though somewhat haunting solution. But It is reassuring that the bodies were “respectively removed” before being relocated to their final resting place.
ReplyDeleteJulie
He certainly was one creative man.
DeleteThat's interesting about the graveyard. When I saw that first picture I thought the exposed roots of the tree had been carved into headstones.
ReplyDeleteI can see that. Trees are unstoppable.
DeleteI read "Jude the Obscure" many years ago and enjoyed it. But all the other info in your post is new to me -- thanks! Very interesting!
ReplyDeleteGlad you read that book. That if anything it gave you a greater view of that time.
DeleteI have always liked to read. I like the feel of a library. I like to look up and down the shelves. I often choose a book by its cover.
ReplyDeleteBut I too did not do any serious reading until university. I took a summer course - right out of high school .. called The English Novel. A novel a week. Thomas Hardy was one of the authors. I hated the instructor. We met in his office ... think there were 6 of us. A small town girl. It was very intimidating.
Looking back it was one of the best courses I ever took. It introduced me to a world of wonderful books. I also took an art history course that was a mind opener.
I can't remember one course of my chosen field that influenced me more than those two courses.
Wow. To have two courses that influenced your life so deeply is amazing. For some people there may not even be one.
DeleteFor me, it was art (minor), psychology, and short stories.
I don't know. The headstones look like skin tags. I love the tree, though.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the carvings are at all readable?
DeleteThose headstones surrounding the tree are amazing to see.
ReplyDeleteIt would be amazing to stand around them.
DeleteThomas Hardy is a wonderful English author whose work has stood the test of time.
ReplyDeleteThat says much about authors who produce timeless works.
DeleteJust goes to prove every age can produce a Renaissance man.
ReplyDeleteThat is the perfect title and description for Hard.
DeleteWow! At first glance I thought that that tree was malformed at the base. It wasn't until I looked closer that I realized that I was looking at headstones. Incredible! Absolutely incredible!
ReplyDeleteI wonder what inspired this?
DeleteDear Susan, I so enjoy your blog posting because usually I'm learning something new. Thank you for that. In college--1954-1958--I read the two books you mention that Hardy wrote. Now--more than 60 years later, I have no memory of the plot/characters of either of them. But the thing is, I knew him only as a novelist and poet (we read his poetry too). Now I have a new Hardy aspect to consider. He was, it would seem, a man of genius. Peace.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan for this bit of history recorded here.
ReplyDeleteGod bless, always.
The headstone tribute was ingenious. I’m embarrassed to say, I’ve never read any of his work. I will remedy that.
ReplyDelete