This is the autograph manuscript of Hardy's only historical novel. Set in Weymouth during the Napoleonic War of the early nineteenth century, it tells the story of Anne Garland and her three suitors: the eponymous trumpet-major John Loveday, his brother Bob Loveday, and Festus Derriman, a cowardly member of the landed gentry. Here, Hardy writes the story on the rectos of pages, using versos for major amendments. The relative lack of alteration shows how fluently he wrote, but it is still possible to see his revision process, for instance the change of some names – one being Molly becoming Matilda.

The manuscript was initially divided into twelve parts to be published in the monthly literary magazine Good Words during 1880; the compositors’ names appear in pencil on the sections (f.236r). Later that year, the novel was published in book form by Smith, Elder & Co., and Hardy presented a copy to Queen Victoria, who evinced great interest in it because of the episode describing King George III at Weymouth. This passage is not found in this manuscript, because chapter 33 and part of 34 are missing. However, it is still possible to read the King’s exchange with Anne Garland in Hardy’s own hand (f.257r). When discussing the dispersal of Hardy’s manuscripts in 1911, the author endorsed the suggestion that this manuscript should come to the Royal Library.

Bibliographic description
306 leaves [missing 238-251]. Autograph ms. Includes a letter from Thomas Hardy to the Royal Librarian John Fortescue dated 14 October 1911, regarding the Royal Library's possible accession of the volume.

Binding description
19th-century quarter-bound black ?calfskin and red marbled paper (British-made "Dutch" pattern of the late 19th century) by J. Larkins. Spine with five raised bands, decorated with gilt tools, fillets, and titling over brown labels. Top fore-edge gilted. Endpapers of marbled and plain paper.