Thomas Hardy was born in Dorset near the city of Dorchester on Egdon Heath. His father was a master mason and Hardy learned the techniques and skills of the trade. His mother was an avid reader of poetry and romantic novels and was responsible for seeing to it that he received an education and an appreciation of literature. When he finished his schooling he took up a position with a firm which specialized in church restoration. This experience served as knowledge fodder for one of his great worked 'Jude the Obscure' who works as a mason who restores churches.  At the age of 22 he moved to London where he began his life as a writer by starting to write poetry. This phase was a developmental period where he earned a living by working in an architectural firm, but took in all of the arts museums, and educational experiences which this global capital had to offer. He read Spencer, Stuart Mills, Darwin, and of course Shakespeare. In 1867 he decided to return to his home in Dorset and took up work with his old firm of Hicks. He had a romantic interlude with a 16 year cousin Tryphena Sparks, which led to a short lived engagement. At this point in his life another romantic interest intervened, Emma Lavina Gifford. She was intensely interested in his literary efforts and encouraged him to consider that as his true calling in life. Hardy who had ambitions in that direction was not difficult to persuade.  He took up the pen to write poetry again but was unsuccessful in finding an interested public. A novelist of that time, George Meredith, advised Hardy to try his hand at writing a novel. In 1867   he finished his 1st book, 'The Poor Man and the Lady'. He submitted it to several publishers, all of who rejected it. Hardy in a depressed and insecure mood destroyed the manuscript. He did not, however, give up on his ambitions and tried again repeatedly.

It was not until 1874 when "Far form the Madding Crowd' gained a following and general popularity. This was all that Hardy needed and he proposed to and married Emma Gifford, and became a full time author. In 1878 he published 'The Return of the Native' and in 1886 'The Mayor of Casterbridge'. It was Hardy's next two novels which secured his position as one of England's great writers. 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' which was published in 1891 was the story a young girl who .

is taken advantage of by a wealthy landowner. She is seduced and becomes pregnant. Her child dies and she looks to escape the clutches of the corrupt Alec D'Urberville. She marries a minister's son who finds out about her past and leaves her because of it. Once again Tess is driven into the option of becoming D'Urberville's mistress and when her husband Angel returns to make up for his judgmental harshness he finds her living with D'Urberville

Tess loses control and murders D'Urberville and is caught at the ancient ruins of Stonehenge and executed. This involved all of the issues which touched on Victorian sensibilities and was a provocative and controversial novel. His next novel 'Jude the Obscure' which was published in 1895 was just as controversial as it developed an inward confrontation between the lust and desires of the physical word and the mental and academic world of the privileged class. The story tells of Jude who struggles to climb up the social ladder but is held back by his commitment to a socially unacceptable relationship. He plans to get a proper education but cannot assemble the resources need to do so. Like the Saintly name sake St. Jude, the patron Saint of lost causes, Jude's fight is for that of a lost cause. In 1896, the social outcry at these novels caused him to vow that he would never write another novel.

The controversy also caused stress and stain on his marriage as he was abused and held in contempt. In 1885 Emma and Hardy had moved to Max Gate in Dorchester which became his home for the remainder of his life. Hardy wrote and published his Wessx stories and 'The Dynasts' which were in blank verse. in 1912 Hardy was awarded the Order of Merit by George V and his social standing and acclaim were firmly established.

Hardy died in Dochester in January of 1928. His final works were published posthumously in 1928. His ashes were buried in Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey.