This is the extended annotated edition including a rare biographical essay on the life and works of the author.This compilation of Thomas Hardy's short stories is one of the most complete on the book market. Every single story was tracked down and integrated into this book. Hours of enjoyable reading lies ahead of you because Hardy was a real genius among the English fiction writers.From the contents:A Changed ManThe Waiting SupperAlicia's DiaryThe Grave By The HandpostEnter A DragoonA Tryst At An Ancient Earth WorkWhat The Shepherd Saw: A Tale Of Four Moonlight NightsA Committee-Man Of 'The Terror'Master John Horseleigh, KnightThe Duke's Reappearance - A Family TraditionA Mere InterludeThe First Countess Of WessexBarbara Of The House Of GrebeThe Marchioness Of StonehengeLady MottisfontThe Lady IcenwaySquire Petrick's LadyAnna, Lady BaxbyThe Lady PenelopeThe Duchess Of HamptonshireThe Honourable LauraThe Son's VetoFor Conscience' SakeA Tragedy Of Two AmbitionsOn The Western CircuitTo Please His WifeThe Melancholy Hussar Of The German LegionThe Fiddler Of The ReelsA Tradition Of Eighteen Hundred And FourA Few Crusted CharactersTony Kytes, The Arch-DeceiverThe History Of The HardcomesThe Superstitious Man's StoryAndrey Satchel And The Parson And ClerkOld Andrey's Experience As A MusicianAbsent-Mindedness In A Parish ChoirThe Winters And The PalmleysIncident In The Life Of Mr. George CrookhillNetty Sargent's CopyholdAn Imaginative WomanThe Three Strangers... and many more...