Portrait of Thomas Hardy

Author profile

Thomas Hardy

1840–1928 · England

An English novelist and poet whose imagined Wessex records rural change, unequal judgment and the force of chance on constrained lives.

Life and context

A short timeline

1840
Born in England.
1891
Tess of the d’Urbervilles published.
1874
Far from the Madding Crowd published.
Unknown year
The Return of the Native published.
1928
End of the author’s recorded life.

Recurring concerns

Themes and style

rural change
judgment
chance
social constraint

Landscape made causal, exact social observation and tragic irony.

Available here

Works by Thomas Hardy

9 works in the Linden collection.

Cover of Tess of the d’Urbervilles

Fiction

Tess of the d’Urbervilles

Thomas Hardy

Fiction · B2–C1 · 13 hr · Guide

Cover of Far from the Madding Crowd

Fiction

Far from the Madding Crowd

Thomas Hardy

Fiction · B1–B2 · 12 hr · Guide

Cover of The Return of the Native

Fiction

The Return of the Native

Thomas Hardy

Fiction · B1–B2 · 13 hr

Cover of The Mayor of Casterbridge

Psychology & Personal Growth

The Mayor of Casterbridge

Thomas Hardy

Psychology & Personal Growth · B1–B2 · 10 hr

Cover of Jude the Obscure

Fiction

Jude the Obscure

Thomas Hardy

Fiction · B1–B2 · 13 hr

Cover of A pair of blue eyes

Psychology & Personal Growth

A pair of blue eyes

Thomas Hardy

Psychology & Personal Growth · B1–B2 · 12 hr

Cover of The Woodlanders

Psychology & Personal Growth

The Woodlanders

Thomas Hardy

Psychology & Personal Growth · B1–B2 · 12 hr

Cover of The Trumpet-Major

History

The Trumpet-Major

Thomas Hardy

History · B1–B2 · 10 hr

Cover of Under the Greenwood Tree; Or, The Mellstock Quire: A Rural Painting of the Dutch School

Fiction

Under the Greenwood Tree; Or, The Mellstock Quire: A Rural Painting of the Dutch School

Thomas Hardy

Fiction · B1–B2 · 5 hr

Author FAQ

Where should I start?

Which Thomas Hardy book should I read first?

Explore Tess of the d’Urbervilles, then compare the lengths and subjects of the available works.

Is the author portrait historical?

This page labels the image record as historical photograph. See the Wikimedia Commons · W. & D. Downey · National Portrait Gallery; reuse status: Public domain.