Author of the Month: Thomas Hardy

With his 180th Birthday having passed us by on June 2nd, there seemed no better candidate for our author of the month than the great novelist Thomas Hardy. Having made an astounding impact on the world of reading and writing with his 19th century literature (who could ever forget such classics as Far From the Madding Crowd and The Trumpet Major?), Thomas Hardy truly cemented himself as a titan of his craft with his works. Here we will be exploring not just Hardy's greatest titles but also his life and times, following his journey down a path that led to his legacy as one of the most well-known authors in history - from his first days to his last.

Collection: Under the Greenwood Tree and The Major of Casterbridge

Early Years and Education

Though Hardy was educated by a well-read mother prior to his school years, and went on to prove himself as an academic child and teenager, his family lacked the means to send him to university. As such, he left school at the age of sixteen and became the apprentice of a local architect. He eventually moved to London to attend King's College, where he won academic prizes for his architectural prowess. In fact, in 2016 a reredos (a church altarpiece) was discovered which is believed to have been designed by Hardy himself.

Unfortunately, Hardy never quite felt at home in London, becoming increasingly aware of class division and growing keen on the idea of social reform. He eventually left the city, deciding that his passion lay with writing, returning to his home in Dorset where he dedicated himself to pursuing this passion. I think we can all agree that, in the long run, this was certainly the right career choice for this budding young writer.

Collection: Far From the Madding Crowd and The Trumpet Major

Hardy's Written Works

Hardy's first novel, The Poor Man and the Lady, actually no longer exists. After finishing the work in 1867, he failed to find a publisher. In need of advice and guidance, he showed it to a friend and mentor, the poet and novelist George Meredith, who told Hardy that the novel was too politically controversial and might damage his future career as a writer -  following this, Hardy destroyed the manuscript. Afterwards, he wrote two further novels which would be published anonymously, novels he hoped would have more commercial appeal - Desperate Remedies and Under the Greenwood Tree. Hardy then continued to write novels as a career, including his famous and successful novel Far From the Madding Crowd, among many others.

However, while many of Hardy's novels are widely enjoyed today, and despite the success he found as a novelist (even though he preferred to see himself as a poet first and foremost), his later books were not without criticism and controversy. Tess of the D'urbervilles attracted criticism for it's "sympathetic portrayal of fallen women", and Jude the Obscure kicked up even more of a fuss. Due to the novel's critique of sex, religion, and the constitution of marriage, it not only received a strong negative response from the Victorian public, but even caused problems in his already failing marriage due to his wife's worries that the novel may be seen as, in some manner, biographical.

Many of the struggles represented in Hardy's novels - especially that of tragic characters struggling against their passions and social circumstances - are reflected in Hardy's own life. In fact, on top of his failed marriage, it is often considered that the criticism he faced for these topics in his novels resulted in him turning away from writing in his later years.

Collection: The Trumpet Major and The Return of the Native

Later Life and Death

Though Hardy found success as a novelist, his final years were not cheerful. Though he remarried, it seems his love for his first wife never left him - his heart was buried with her and, had his request been fulfilled, he would have been laid to rest with her entirely. Hardy was also horrified by the damage the First World War inflicted upon the world, and his opinion on Western Civilization appeared to deteriorate altogether.

And yet, though his final years were troublesome, Hardy is remembered fondly by all for what he left behind. His works have influenced many other classic authors, including D. H. Lawrence and Virginia Woolf, and his impact on the literary world remains strong today. Thomas Hardy is a name known and respected by readers worldwide, and we at Country House Library certainly agree that such a reputation is well and truly deserved.

While you're here, don't forget to browse our collection of vintage Thomas Hardy books for your reading pleasure!