Thomas Hardy – English novelist and poet of the Victorian era, author of “Tess of the d’Urbervilles” and “Jude the Obscure”, books that sparked scandal and censorship. He explored the tragic clash between individual and society, coined the concept of the “Wessex novel” set in his invented region. His poetry deeply influenced 20th-century modernists.
📖 Hardy trained as an architect and worked in the field for years. 🌄 He created the fictional region of “Wessex” for most of his novels. 😮 Jude the Obscure caused such outrage that Hardy abandoned prose for poetry. ✍️ He wrote more than 900 poems. 🎶 His works inspired composers, including Benjamin Britten. 📚 Critics found his novels “too bleak” for Victorian tastes. ⚡ The idea of destiny in his books gave rise to the term “Hardyan pessimism”. 📜 He admired Greek tragedy and saw it as a model for modern life. 🌍 His works were widely translated and praised in France and Germany. 🕊️ During WWI he wrote anti-war poems. 😂 Curious fact: after his death, Hardy’s heart was misplaced and ended up buried with a cat. 😅 Funny fact: he disliked noisy parties but loved listening to folk songs in country pubs.