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Thomas Hardy was a major English novelist and poet, born on June 2, 1840, in Dorset, England. Deeply influenced by the rural landscape and traditions of his native region, Hardy became one of the most important literary figures of the Victorian and early modern eras. His work often explores themes of fate, social constraint, human suffering, and the struggle between individual desire and societal expectations.

Hardy initially trained as an architect but turned to writing full-time after the success of his early novels. He gained recognition for works such as “Far from the Madding Crowd,” “The Mayor of Casterbridge,” and “Tess of the d’Urbervilles,” which are set in the fictional region of Wessex, modeled after the English countryside. These novels present a rich tapestry of rural life while examining moral complexity and the often tragic consequences of human choices.

One of his most controversial and enduring works, “Jude the Obscure,” was harshly criticized for its candid treatment of marriage, religion, and sexuality. The public reaction was so intense that Hardy abandoned novel writing altogether and devoted the rest of his career to poetry. His poetry, including collections like “Wessex Poems” and “Poems of the Past and the Present,” reflects a somber, often pessimistic view of life, nature, and history.

Thomas Hardy died on January 11, 1928, but his influence remains profound. He is remembered as a writer who bridged the gap between Victorian realism and modernist themes, and whose work continues to resonate for its emotional depth, philosophical insight, and powerful depictions of the human condition.