The fingerpost, several miles outside Dorchester, viewed from the south. This fingerpost (or group of road signs) recalls both one of most significant settings in Hardy's short story "The Grave at the Hand-post" (1897) and also the scene in David Giles's six-part film adaptation of The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886), starring Alan Bates, in which young Michael Henchard, his wife, and child approach the village of Weydon-Priors in the opening flashback. Many, many times Thomas Hardy, as a mere lad from the village of High Bockhampton, must have passed this finger-post going to and coming from Kingston Maurward House.
Photograph and commentary by Philip V. Allingham 2008. [You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the person who scanned the image and (2) link your document to this URL.]
Last modified 19 April 2024