Thomas Hardy Biography

• Far from the Madding Crowd
• The Mayor of Casterbridge: The Life and Death of a Man of Character
• The Return of the Native
• Under the Greenwood Tree
• The Woodlanders
• A Pair of Blue Eyes
• Desperate Remedies
• The poetry of Thomas Hardy
• Life’s Little Ironies
• The Darkling Thrush
• The Convergence of the Twain
• The Three Strangers
• The Romantic Adventures of a Milkmaid
• Thomas Hardy
• The withered arm and other stories, 1874-1888

Thomas Hardy is one of the celebrated nineteenth century English fiction writer and a poet. He was the proponent of Romanticism and Victorian realism and was inspired by William Wordsworth, Charles Dickens and George Elliot’s works.

Born on June 2, 1840, Thomas Hardy grew up in a village of Upper Bockhampton in Southwestern England. He was a son of a stonemason and a violinist. His mother was a well-read woman who used to relate him folk tales and songs. His parents stimulated in him a keen interest in multifarious literatures, architect, music and country lifestyle which he exhibited in his novels and poetry collections. He received his early education from Mr. Last’s Academy for Young Gentlemen. He taught himself Latin, German and French through his course books. As his family could not afford to send him for higher education, he stayed and became an apprentice to an architect. Afterwards, he moved to London and resumed his education at King’s College London. Alongside working as an architect he immersed himself in classic literature. He returned to his hometown due to his health issues after five years and began his writing career.

Hardy’s initial work was in the genre of novel. His debut novel, The Poor Man and the Lady (1867), was rejected by the publishers. After receiving his mentor George Meredith’s feedback on the work, he decided to destroy the novel because it posed a threat to give rise to political controversy if published.  Then he wrote Desperate Remedies (1871) and Under the Greenwood Tree (1872) which were published anonymously in popular magazines in a serial form. Another popular work A Pair of Blue Eyes was published in 1873, inspired by some special moments in Hardy’s life. It is considered that the term ‘cliffhanger’ is coined after the episodic publication of this novel in a magazine.

1874 is marked as a successful year for Hardy with his publication of Far from the Madding Crowd. The novel was able to garner positive review from readers and critics. Hardy’s novels have a similar pattern of tragedy that is also evident in this novel. There is no happy-ending in this novel although a satisfying resolution. The protagonists, Bathsheba and Gabriel are shown to have suffered immensely as it is when they finally tie a knot in the end. It also discusses the dynamics of a happy marriage in comparison with financial stability and physical appeal of a person.

The literary works of Hardy shed light on the social constraints in the Victorian society. He took a stand against the conventions and orthodox views of his society in Two on a Tower. His works highlight the status quo strictly maintained by the privileged class which undermines the foundation of a society. Also fate and destiny play significant role in Hardy’s writings. The turn of events due to some incident leads to the suffering of his characters. His two novels Tess of the d’Urbervilles and Far From the Madding Crowd are emblematic of the theme of fate.

In addition to fiction writing, Hardy also produced several poetry collections. He claimed poetry was more close to his heart than novel writing. Consequently, he gave up novel writing and penned only poetry in twentieth century. His poetry adapted a number of forms like dramatic monologues, ballads, lyrics and satire. His notable poetry works include, Are You Digging on My Grave, The Man He Killed, Wessex Poems, The Blinded Bird and Drummer Hodge. Thomas Hardy died of pleurisy in 1928.

REFERENCE:http://www.famousauthors.org/thomas-hardy