In 1895/96 when the Wessex Novels Edition was published Wessex appeared for the first time as a homogeonious region. Thus the Wessex Novels Edition can be seen as the origin of the homogenious concept of Wessex as it is known to us today. The textual revisions Hardy made primarily for the publication of the Wessex Edition and alteratons made to the maps show that the Wessex Novels Edition was by no means the end his development of Wessex.

Classification of Hardy's works

Alterations to maps of Wessex

Hardy about Wessex on the occasion of being presented with the Freedom of Dorchester (1910)

Concept of Wessex as defined in the "General Preface to the Novels and Poems" (1912)

External link: Sensitive map of Wessex as it is known to us today