Thomas Hardy was one of the most renowned English novelists and poets of the Victorian era. Though he considered himself primarily a poet, Hardy gained fame for writing novels that portrayed the fictional county of Wessex. Over the course of his long and prolific career, Hardy explored themes of fatalism, pessimism, and nostalgia in his works.
Early Life and Education
Thomas Hardy was born on June 2, 1840 in Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, England. His father was a stonemason and builder, and his mother encouraged Hardy’s appetite for education. As a child, Hardy was taught at home by his mother before attending schools in Dorchester, Dorset. After showing promise as a young student, Hardy was apprenticed to an architect at age 16. He then moved to London to train as an architect. During this time, Hardy educated himself at London libraries and began writing poetry.
In 1862, Hardy’s first novel, The Poor Man and the Lady, was rejected by publishers. He continued to work as an architect while writing novels and poems in his spare time. His first published novel, Desperate Remedies, appeared in 1871 and was published anonymously as he did not want to be known as a novelist while practicing architecture.
Literary Career
In 1873, Hardy published his first major literary work, A Pair of Blue Eyes, set in Cornwall. The novel explores themes of social convention and love. This began Hardy’s series of Wessex novels, set in a fictional rural England based on Hardy’s home county of Dorset.
Over the next thirty years, Hardy produced the bulk of his important literary work, including novels such as Far from the Madding Crowd (1874), The Return of the Native (1878), The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886), and Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1891). His novels often criticized Victorian society, especially its rigid social hierarchy and treatment of women. Though some of his novels were initially controversial for their critique of society, they went on to be highly popular and influential.
Hardy considered himself first and foremost a poet. Beginning in the mid-1860s, he wrote and published numerous poems. In 1898, Hardy published his first volume of poetry, Wessex Poems. This was followed by several other poetry collections, including Poems of the Past and the Present (1901). In 1910, Hardy published The Dynasts, an epic drama in verse tracing the course of the Napoleonic wars.
After receiving criticism for his final novel, Jude the Obscure (1895), Hardy turned to poetry exclusively. He continued to write poems reflecting on themes of pessimism and the human condition until his death.
Later Years and Death
In 1914, Hardy’s first wife Emma died suddenly, and he married his secretary Florence Dugdale in 1914. Though their relationship was often strained, they remained married until Hardy’s death.
Hardy was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature several times and received the Order of Merit in 1910. His later years were spent in Max Gate, his house in Dorchester where he wrote many of his major novels. Thomas Hardy died on January 11, 1928 at the age of 87. His ashes were interred at Westminster Abbey while his heart was buried in his beloved Wessex countryside.
Hardy’s novels and poetry had a significant influence on notable authors such as D.H. Lawrence and Virginia Woolf. He is now considered one of the most important and innovative English writers of both fiction and poetry. Through his critical portrayal of Victorian society and exploration of rural life, Hardy left an enduring literary legacy.
Major Works
Some of Thomas Hardy’s major literary works include:
Novels:
- Far from the Madding Crowd (1874)
- The Return of the Native (1878)
- The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886)
- Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1891)
- Jude the Obscure (1895)
Poetry Collections:
- Wessex Poems (1898)
- Poems of the Past and the Present (1901)
- Time’s Laughingstocks and Other Verses (1909)
- Satires of Circumstance (1914)
Verse Drama:
- The Dynasts (1910)
Personal Life
In 1870, Hardy met and fell in love with Emma Gifford. They married in 1874. Their marriage was strained, and they became estranged. After Emma’s death in 1912, Hardy regretted that their differences had driven them apart.
In 1914, Hardy married his secretary Florence Dugdale, who was nearly 40 years younger. Though their relationship was difficult, she later became his literary executor.
Hardy did not have any children in either marriage. He did have familial ties that inspired characters in his novels, such as his older brothers and his parents’ servants.
Throughout his life, Hardy remained associated with Dorset. The Wessex countryside influenced his fictional region filled with farms, villages, and rural culture that served as the backdrop for many of his novels.
Net Worth
As a successful novelist and poet, Thomas Hardy earned a significant income from his writing. However, he came from a humble background as the son of a builder. Hardy trained as an architect and worked in that profession early in his career while establishing himself as an author.
Estimates of Hardy’s net worth when he died in 1928 range from £100,000 to £1 million, which translates to £3 million to £30 million in today’s money. Much of this came from book sales and royalties over his prolific decades-long writing career. The earnings allowed Hardy to purchase a home and live comfortably.
While Hardy had fame and notability, he did not lead a lavish lifestyle. He invested his wealth prudently to become financially independent and retire from architecture to focus solely on writing. His assets allowed him to continue producing novels and poetry that criticized society and left a mark on English literature.
Conclusion
In his 87 years, Thomas Hardy left an indelible legacy as a novelist and poet. His vivid portrayal of the fictional Wessex countryside and exploration of modern themes made him a literary force in Victorian England. Though Hardy saw himself chiefly as a poet, his novels gained notoriety for their realism and social criticism. As one of the most prominent authors of his era, Hardy’s influence can be seen in many later writers. His life reflected the power of perseverance, as he continued developing his literary talents even when facing setbacks and criticism. Hardy created a substantial body of work that provides insights into Victorian society, rural life, and human nature.