Thomas Hardy author page

Thomas Hardy biography

Thomas Hardy was an English novelist and poet, widely recognised for his contributions to Victorian literature. He was born in Dorset, England, and trained as an architect before turning to writing. Hardy’s works are often set in the semi-fictional region of Wessex, which is based on the rural counties of south-west England.

Hardy’s early novels include Desperate Remedies (1871), Under the Greenwood Tree (1872), and A Pair of Blue Eyes (1873). He gained wider attention with Far from the Madding Crowd (1874), which established his reputation as a novelist. His subsequent novels, such as The Return of the Native (1878), The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886), Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1891), and Jude the Obscure (1895), are known for their exploration of social constraints, rural life, and tragic characters.

In addition to his novels, Hardy was a prolific poet. He published several volumes of poetry, including Wessex Poems (1898) and Poems of the Past and the Present (1901). His poetry often reflects themes of nature, love, and loss, and is noted for its use of traditional forms and dialect.

Hardy’s work has been recognised for its influence on English literature, particularly for its depiction of rural society and its critical examination of Victorian values. He was awarded the Order of Merit in 1910. Hardy continued to write poetry and prose until his death in 1928. His novel Jude the Obscure was published in 1895.