J. Don Vann in Victorian Novels in Serial (MLA, 1985) lists the serial breaks for the 1878 Belgravia publication, as do the Norton Critical, Oxford World's Classics, and new Penguin editions.
| Part | Date | Chapters in Volume |
| 1. | Jan. 1878 | Book I, Ch. 1-4 |
| 2. | Feb. 1878 | Book I, Ch. 5-7 |
| 3. | March 1878 | Book I, Ch. 8-11 |
| 4. | April 1878 | Book II, Ch. 1-5 |
| 5. | May 1878 | Book II, Ch. 6-8 |
| 6. | June 1878 | Book III, Ch. 1-4 |
| 7. | July 1878 | Book III, Ch. 5-8 a |
| 8. | August 1878 | Book IV, Ch. 1-4 b |
| 9. | Sept. 1878 | Book IV, Ch. 5-8 |
| 10. | Oct. 1878 | Book V, Ch. 1-4 |
| 11. | Nov. 1878 | Book V, Ch. 5-8 |
| 12. | Dec. 1878 | Book V, Ch. 6; Book VI, Ch. 1-4 |
a. Hardy made numerous revisions in book 3, chapter 8 after serialization.
b. Book 4, chapter 1 was revised considerably for the volume edition. (Vann 84).
Entered the Victorian Web 6 March 2004; last modified 30 March 2024