The Grave By the Handpost

Thomas Hardy (2 Jun 1840 – 11 Jan 1928) was an English novelist and poet. His works were under strong influence of Romanticism. He gained popularity such novels as Far from the Madding Crowd (1874), The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886) and Tess of the d'Urbervilles (1891). Despite the fact that Hardy mostly regarded himself as a poet, his first collection was published only in 1898. Most of his fictional works were set in the semi-fictional region of Wessex, based on the medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom.

One dark and dry evening the choir of Chalk-Newton were repeating their program out in the streets. They were standing mute and solemn there, in the churchyard. Why there? There is the grave of old Sergeant Holway in that churchyard.