by Lacey Simmons

Created on: September 08, 2008   Last Updated: August 28, 2010

Thomas Hardy, an English novelist, short story writer, and poet was born June 2, 1840. Hardy was born at Higher Bock Hampton, England. His mother gave him his formal education which ended when he was sixteen years old. It was then that he became John Hicks' apprentice, a local architect.

Hardy trained as an architect in Dorchester, England. He then moved to London in 1862 where he attended King's College in London. Hardy won prizes from the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Architectural Association.

Five years later he returned to England and dedicated himself to writing. Hardy finished his first novel in 1867, "The Poor Man and The Lady". He failed to find a publisher and destroyed most of the manuscript; only a few parts of the novel still remain.

In 1873 "A Pair of Blue Eyes" was published. This was a story about the courtship of his first wife Emma Gifford. Hardy's first important novel was "Far From the Madding Crowd" published in 1874. This novel was successful enough for him to give up architectural work and work full time on writing.

Hardy and his wife Emma moved from London to Yeovil and then to Sturminister, Newton, from there they moved to Max Gate. In this time Hardy produced "The Return of the Native", "The Mayor of Casterbridge", "The Woodlanders" and "Tess of the D'Urbervilles". A few of them attracted criticism.

"Jude the Obscure", a novel Hardy had published in 1895 was met with even more criticism due to its treatment of sex. This novel even created problems in Hardy's Marriage because his wife Emma was concerned people would view it as an autobiographical novel representing their marriage.

Despite all of the criticism surrounding his novels he became a celebrity in English literature. Having several successful novels he still felt disgusted about the public view and gave up writing novels altogether. Hardy proceeded to write poetry, most unpublished until 1898. Most of his poems focused on themes of disappointment in love and life.

Hardy's personal life took a traumatic turn when his wife Emma passed away in 1912. Even though he was estranged from her, it still has a traumatic effect on him. Hardy made a trip to Cornwall to revisit places linked with him and Emma. He wrote "Poems 1912-13" which expressed his grief. Two Years later he married his secretary Florence Dugdale.

Hardy became ill in December 1927 and died in January 1928. Where he would be buried became a controversy, his family wanted him to be buried with his first wife Emma. While his executor of his will insisted he be buried in Poets' Corner. They compromised burying his heart with Emma and his ashes at Poets' Corner.
Hardy's work is still widely admired today by fellow authors and aspiring writers.

Learn more about this author, Lacey Simmons.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.