Thomas Hardy Book summary

 

Thomas Hardy was born to working-class parents in England on the 2nd of June in 1840. Hardy’s mother was determined to provide the best education to her son, and so sent him to the best school that the area could supply. At the age of 16, Hardy was set up as an apprentice to an architect by his mother’s design. He later moved to London and began to work as a draftsman with an architect in the city. Thomas briefly entertained the idea of going to University and becoming a clergyman, but he soon abandoned that dream. He began to write poetry, and always considered himself a poet even though he failed to get any poems published during that initial period.

Hardy only began to write novels after he had failed to secure a position as a poet in the literary world. However, his first book was rejected by most publishers because it was far too critical of Victorian society. Hardy faced considerable hurdles in both his personal as well his professional life due to his status as the son of working-class parents. Through all of his work, Hardy pointed out the discrepancies in the established system and advocated a more just and compassionate society. Thomas Hardy wrote several books, and his noteworthy works include Jude the Obscure, The Return of the Native, The Mayor of Casterbridge, and several others.