Thomas Hardy is known mostly for his powerful novels set here in Dorset. But what do you know of his literary first love, his poetry? And what about the ‘secret’ love affair of his youth that haunted and helped shape his writing for decades to come?

We’ll learn about these lesser-known aspects of Hardy from two experts, Graham Fawcett and Nicholas Hillyard. On Saturday evening the New Hardy Players folk band Tatterdemalion come to lead us in a ceilidh evening (caller Angela Laycock) with dance tunes Hardy himself knew and played. (If dancing isn’t your thing, just enjoy the tunes!)

Add to all this walks and visits to the key places he lived, we can look forward to a fascinating fresh appreciation of a great writer and the people and places he immortalised.

Convening the event is Virginia Astley, who has been deeply involved with Hardy’s Cottage (as writer in residence) and with Max Gate, the house he designed for himself in later life.