Introduction 'The Road to Norcombe Hill': Hardy's Musical Evolution 'Silent Workings of the Invisible Hand': Hardy's Metaphysical Evolution The 'Spider's Web': Metaphysics into 'Music Drama' 'The Plucked Harp String': Desire, Courtship Ritual and the Debate Concerning Speech Theory A Tale of 'Tragical Possibilities': Music and the Birth of Consciousness in The Return of the Native 'A Tragedy Appropriate for its Time': Music and the Story of a 'Man of Character' 'All Creation Groaning': A Deaf Ear to Music in Jude the Obscure Conclusion Bibliography Index.