Thomas Hardy

Born on 2 June 1840, Thomas Hardy was an English novelist, poet and dramatist from Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, England. He was known for his genial nature and the ability to sensitively portray human sufferings and injustices in his works. Some of his major novels are Far from the Madding Crowd (1874), The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886) and Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1891). Hardy was known for his regionalised plots that represented a rural way of life which was fast declining. He often challenged Victorian morality and was often sympathetic to the working classes in his novels. Today, he holds the unique distinction of being a renowned nineteenth century novelist and a twentieth century poet. He died aged 87.