THOMAS HARDY Biography

Childhood Home Hardy lived from 1840 to 1928. He was born in this Dorset cottage in the south west of England. It was built by his grandfather in 1800. A description of the property is set out in Domiclium and is his oldest surviving poem. It faces west, and round the back and sides High beeches, bending, hang a veil of boughs, And sweep against the roof, Wild honeysucks Climb on the walls, and seem to sprout a wish (If we may fancy wish of trees and plants) To overtop the apple-trees hard by. Red roses, lilacs, varigated box Are there in plenty, and such hardy flowers As flourish best untrained. Adjoining these Are herbs and esculents; and farther still A field; then cottages with trees, and last The distant hills and sky. (extract from Domiclium 1860)

Childhood-Family He was the son of a master mason and builder, Thomas Hardy senior. From his father he gained a love of music. His mother, Jemima Hardy, was well- read and educated Thomas until he went to his first school at Bockhampton at age 8. From her he developed a love of learning as well as a love of the countryside.

Early Years as an Architect His formal education ended at the age of 16. He then trained as an architect in Dorchester. He moved to London in 1862 and won prizes from the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Architectural Association. Hardy never truly felt at home in London and when he returned five years later to Dorset he decided to dedicate himself to writing.

Thomas Hardy the Novelist Thomas Hardy was a succesful novelist in his own lifetime, although his first love was writing poetry. His first book that gained notice was Far from the Madding Crowd (1874). After its success Hardy was convinced that he could earn his living as an author. He produced a series of novels, among them The Return of Native (1878) and The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886). Tess of the D'urbervilles (1891), which deals with the aftermath of rape, came into conflict with Victorian morality. Jude the Obscure (1895) aroused even more debate and it was sold in brown paper bags so it couldn’t be seen. In 1896, disturbed by the public uproar Hardy announced that he would never write fiction again and he concentrated on writing poetry.

Thomas Hardy and Emma Gifford Thomas Hardy was married twice - his first marriage, was to Emma Gifford. They married in 1874.

Thomas Hardy and Emma Hardy The marriage between Thomas and Emma was childless and largely unhappy. It is rumoured that he had affairs. Others have said that Emma was spoilt and demanding. Emma suffered from physical ill-health and in the latter part of their marriage her mental health was not good either. Her death was a shock to Hardy. He had not anticipated it and may well have felt guilty about the lack of care he showed when she first became ill. Emma Hardy died in November 1912, and was buried in Stinsford churchyard. Thomas was stricken with remorse, but the result was some of his best poetry, expressing his feelings for his wife of 38 years.

Thomas Hardy’s Later Years Hardy married his secretary, Florence Dugdale in 1914. She later became his biographer. Hardy died in 1928, aged 87. He had asked to be laid beside Emma in Dorset, but others wanted his body buried in Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey. In the end a compromise was reached. His ashes were buried in Westminster Abbey and his heart was buried with Emma.

Connecting with The Voice Thomas Hardy Woman much missed, how you call to me, call to me, Saying that now you are not as you were When you had changed from the one who was all to me, But as at first, when our day was fair. Reflect on the biographical background of the poem. How you think the poet is feeling as he writes the first stanza? The answer might not be simple. How much of his feelings are communicated by the sound of the verse and the arrangement of the words? Consider, for example, the way the repetition of the words ‘call to me’ extends the length of the line. What effect does the rhythm have on the tone of the stanza?