Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy was born on the 2nd of June 1840 in Higher Bockhampton, a small hamlet east of Dorchester. His father worked as a stonemason and local builder while his mother Jemima Hand educated him until he turned eight years old. The family lacked money for university so formal schooling ended when Hardy reached sixteen. He became apprenticed to James Hicks, a local architect who taught him the trade of building design. Hardy worked on the new church at nearby Athelhampton where he painted watercolours of the Tudor gatehouse. He moved to London in 1862 to study at King's College London before joining Arthur Blomfield's practice. During these early years he designed parts of Christ Church in East Sheen and All Saints' parish church in Windsor. A reredos possibly designed by Hardy was discovered behind panelling at All Saints' in August 2016. After five years in the city he returned to Dorset due to health concerns. He settled in Weymouth and decided to dedicate himself to writing instead of architecture.
Hardy published his first novel Desperate Remedies in 1871 followed by Under the Greenwood Tree in 1872. Both works appeared anonymously but marked his transition from architectural work to literary career. Far from the Madding Crowd arrived in 1874 and introduced readers to the semi-fictional region called Wessex. This name derived from an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom covering counties like Dorset and Wiltshire. The novel proved successful enough for Hardy to abandon architecture entirely. Over the next twenty-five years he produced ten more novels including The Return of the Native in 1878. His only historical novel The Trumpet-Major came out in 1880 while A Laodicean followed in 1881. Two on a Tower published in 1882 explored romance within the world of astronomy. In 1885 Hardy moved to Max Gate outside Dorchester where he wrote The Mayor of Casterbridge in 1886. Tess of the d'Urbervilles appeared four years later with its controversial subtitle A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented. Jude the Obscure published in 1895 became his final novel despite strong negative responses from Victorian society. Some booksellers sold it wrapped in brown paper bags while Bishop Walsham How reportedly burned his copy.
Hardy met Emma Gifford while on an architectural mission to restore St Juliot church in Cornwall during 1870. They married on the 17th of September 1874 at St Peter's Church in Paddington London. The couple rented St David's Villa in Southborough for one year before moving to Max Gate in 1885. Later years saw them become estranged though Emma died in 1912 causing profound trauma for Hardy. He made trips to Cornwall after her death to revisit places linked with their courtship. His collection Poems 1912, 13 reflected upon her loss through deeply felt expressions of regret and remorse. Emma had been estranged from him for twenty years yet these elegies became among the finest celebrations of the dead in English poetry according to biographer Claire Tomalin. In 1914 Hardy married Florence Emily Dugdale who was thirty-nine years younger than himself. He kept a Wire Fox Terrier named Wessex known for its ill-tempered nature until his own death. The terrier's grave stone remains on the grounds of Max Gate today.
Hardy's family belonged to the Anglican church but were not especially devout members. He attended church where his father and uncle contributed music but did not attend local Church
of England schools. As a young adult he befriended Henry R. Bastow preparing for baptism in the Baptist Church. Hardy flirted with conversion but decided against it eventually ending correspondence when Bastow moved to Australia. Scholars have debated his religious leanings for decades without reaching consensus. Once asked by clergyman Dr. A.B. Grosart about reconciling human horrors with God's goodness Hardy replied with uncertainty. He frequently conceived supernatural forces controlling the universe through indifference or caprice calling them The Immanent Will. Even so he retained emotional attachment to Christian liturgy and rural community rituals. Biblical references appeared woven throughout many novels despite his skepticism regarding traditional Christianity. Throughout his life Hardy sought rationale for believing in afterlife turning first to spiritualists like Henri Bergson then considering Albert Einstein and J.M.E. McTaggart's philosophy on time and space.
Hardy died at Max Gate just after nine pm on the 11th of January 1928 from cardiac syncope with old age as contributing factor. His funeral occurred on the 16th of January at Westminster
Abbey proving controversial since he wished burial at Stinsford church with Emma. Family agreed but executor Sir Sydney Carlyle Cockerell insisted placement in Poets' Corner. Compromise reached where heart buried at Stinsford while ashes placed in Poets' Corner. Estate valued at £95,418 upon death. Shortly after Hardy's death executors burned letters and notebooks though twelve survived including notes from the 1820s. Birthplace in Bockhampton and house Max Gate now owned by National Trust. Hardy corresponded with Lady Catherine Milnes Gaskell whose books were inspired by him. D.H. Lawrence wrote Study of Thomas Hardy indicating importance even if platform for own developing philosophy. John Cowper Powys dedicated Wood and Stone to Hardy acknowledging greatest poet and novelist of their age. Musical settings included works by Gerald Finzi Benjamin Britten Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst. Hardy remains significant influence on Nigel Blackwell frontman of Half Man Half Biscuit incorporating phrases into song lyrics.
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Common questions
When and where was Thomas Hardy born?
Thomas Hardy was born on the 2nd of June 1840 in Higher Bockhampton, a small hamlet east of Dorchester. His father worked as a stonemason and local builder while his mother Jemima Hand educated him until he turned eight years old.
What were the first novels published by Thomas Hardy?
Hardy published his first novel Desperate Remedies in 1871 followed by Under the Greenwood Tree in 1872. Both works appeared anonymously but marked his transition from architectural work to literary career.
Who did Thomas Hardy marry and when did they wed?
Thomas Hardy married Emma Gifford on the 17th of September 1874 at St Peter's Church in Paddington London. He later married Florence Emily Dugdale in 1914 who was thirty-nine years younger than himself.
How did Thomas Hardy die and what happened to his remains?
Thomas Hardy died at Max Gate just after nine pm on the 11th of January 1928 from cardiac syncope with old age as contributing factor. Compromise reached where heart buried at Stinsford while ashes placed in Poets' Corner.
Why is Thomas Hardy considered significant in literature and music?
John Cowper Powys dedicated Wood and Stone to Hardy acknowledging greatest poet and novelist of their age. Musical settings included works by Gerald Finzi Benjamin Britten Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst.