The Well-Beloved completes the cycle of Hardy's great novels reiterating his favourite themes of man’S eternal quest for perfection in both Iove and art，and the suffering that ensmI}S．Iocelyn Pierston，celebrated sculptor，tries to create an image of his ideal woman-his imaginary Well-Beloved in stone，jUSt as he tries to find her in the flesh．Powerful symbolism marks this romantic fantasy that Hardy has grounded firmly in reality with a characteristically authentic rendering 0f location，the Isle of Slingers，or Portland as we know it．Overt exploration 0f the relationship between erotic faSCination and creativity makes thiS novel a nineteenth centU ry Iandma rk in the persistent debate aboUt art， aesthetics and gender.

Wordsworth Classics are inexpensive editions designed to appeal to the gtmeral reader and students．We commissioned teachers and specialists to write wide ranging，iargon-free introductions and tO provide notes titt at would assist the understanding of our readers rather than interpret tfle stories for them．In the same spirit，because the pleasures ofreading alj e inseparable from the surprises．secrets and revelations that all narratives contain，we strongly advise you tO enjoy this book before tlLtrning t0 the Introducdon．

Introduction

THE WELL-BELOVED

Part First

A YOUNG MAN OF TWENTY

Author’s Preface

A Supposititious Presentment ofHer

The Incarnation is Assureed to be Ture

The Appointment

A Lonely Pedestrian

A Charge

On the Brink

Her Earlier Incarnations

‘Too Like the Lightning’

Familiar Phenomena in the Distance

Part Second

A YOUNG MAN oF FORTY

The 0ld Phantom Becomes Distinct

She Draws Close and Satisfies

She Becomes an Inaccessible Ghost

She Threatens to Resume Corporeal Substance

The Resumprion Takes Place

The Past Sbines in the Present

The New Becomes Established

His Own Soul ConfrontsHim

Juxtapositions

She Fails to Vanish still

The Image Persists

A Grille Descends Between

She is Enshrouded from Sight

Part Third

A YOUNG MAN 0F SIXTY

She Returis for the New Season

Misgivingson the Re-embodiment

The Renewed Image Burns Itself In

A Dash for the Last Incarnation

On the Verge of Possession

The Well-Beloved is Where?

An Old Tabernacle in a New Aspect

'Alas for This Grey Shadow，Once a Man!’

THE PURSUIT OF THE WELL-BELOVED

Part First

A YOUNG MAN 0F TWENTY

Relics

A Supposititious Presentment of Her

The Incarnation is Assumed to be a True One

The Lonely Pedestrian

A Charge

On the Brink

Her Earlier Incarnations

A Miscalculation

Familiar Phenomena in the Distance

The Old Phantom becomes Distinct

She Draws Close and Satisfies

She Becomesan Inaccessible Ghost

Part Second

A YOUNG MAN OF FORTY

She Threatens to Resume Corporeal Substance

The Resumption Takes Place

The Pastsbines in the Prese

The New Becomes Established

His Own soul Confronts Him

Juxtapositions

She Fails to Vanish When Closely Confronted

A Homely Medium Does Not Dull the Image

A Grille Descends between The Vision and Him

She is Finally Enshrouded from Sight

Part Third

A YOUNG MAN 0F FIFTY-NINE

She Returns for the New Season

Misgivings on this UnexpectedRe-embodiment

The Renewed Image Burns Itself In

He Makesa Dash for the Last Incarnation

He Desperately Clutchesthe Form

He PossessesIt：He Possesses It Not

The Elusiveness Continues

He Becomes Retrogressive

The Magnanimous Thing  

The Pursuit Abandoned

He Becomes Aware of New Conditiom

Notes