A NEW book taking a modern look at the scenery that inspired the works of Thomas Hardy has gone on sale in Dorchester.

Thomas Hardy Society chairman Dr Tony Fincham has produced a 21st Century guide to the Wessex landscape where the celebrated writer lived and set much of his work.

His book, called Hardy’s Landscape Revisited, has been published by Robert Hale and is on sale at Waterstone’s in Dorchester and the Dorset County Museum.

Dr Fincham, who works as a GP in Kent but also has a property in Dorchester, said: “Basically it’s an updated guide to Hardy’s Wessex because the last proper guide to Hardy’s landscape was in 1972.

“I think things have changed quite a bit since the last look at the whole thing.

“Also it’s meant to be a greener way of looking at things and looking at Hardy as a green writer.”

The book takes the form of a series of guided walks around Hardy’s Wessex, with more than 90 colour photographs as well as maps and other illustrations.

As well as Hardy’s novels, the book contains references to the locations of more than 200 of his poems.

Dr Fincham, who has studied Hardy for more than 35 years, said the success of the recent Thomas Hardy Festival and Conference in Dorchester proves there is still plenty of interest in the Dorset author.

He said: “We probably had about 200 people who came to the conference and I think it was from 17 different countries, with the furthest away being New Zealand and also from China, Korea and Japan.

“There is a very widespread interest in Hardy.

“I think it’s because he seems to have a clear understanding of the human condition and our place in the universe, particularly in relation to nature and the countryside.”

It is the second novel Dr Fincham has published, with his first work Hardy the Physician two years ago that looked at medical aspects of his texts.

“I have always had a lifelong interest in Hardy,” he said.

“I think it’s genetic because I never knew my grandfather until I met him late in life and found he was very much involved with Hardy and a founder of the Hardy Society.

“I knew nothing about it and developed an interest in Hardy separately.”