ABSTRACT
The purpose of this book is to present a collation and critical interpretation of the revisions made to Hardy’s holograph manuscript of Far from the Madding Crowd for its first publication in The Cornhill Magazine (Smith, Elder & Co., 1874). In order to highlight all interlinear and proof revisions of this manuscript I have included, with each and every citation, a corresponding citation from The Cornhill Magazine in so far as it differs from the original. Hardy’s holograph manuscript provided the copytext, albeit with variations, for the Cornhill which, in turn, provided the copy-text for all subsequent editions including those we read today.
