Moore captures the sense of Hardy's writing in historical literary context. He demonstrates, in detail, that Hardy's novels were ironic, satirical, and by and large critical responses to the major themes of Romantic and Victorian cultural postions. Moore argues, convincingly, that Hardy's main theme in Wessex was the fall of idealism into a history which was without Reaon, or "non-rational," as Hardy once named it. Hardy's major novels, more shows, replay the dark themes of Shelley's "Triumph of Time," in local contexts.
Moore's study is comprehensive, detailed, and well-argued. It is surprising that it is not more widely appreciated in the Hardy and Victorian studies communities, both of which are sorely in need of a few good arguments and fresh critical approaches.