But it is most famed as the central location in The Mayor of Casterbridge.

BBC: RELATED BBC SITES

Russian PhD student Elena Elenev said it was a "tremendously interesting opportunity" to visit the place which was the inspiration for Hardy's fictional town of Casterbridge.

BBC: Thomas Hardy enthusiasts converge on Dorchester

Even so, it's good to know that we'll soon have no trouble borrowing Penguin's edition of The Mayor of Casterbridge without having to hop on the subway first.

ENGADGET: Penguin slinks back into e-book lending for New York City libraries, with a possible catch