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Thomas Hardy: Biography, Books & Where to Start

1840–1928 · Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, England · also known as Hardy

Thomas Hardy booksThomas Hardy biographyTess of the d’UrbervillesFar from the Madding CrowdThe Mayor of CasterbridgeJude the ObscureHardy

Who was Thomas Hardy?

Thomas Hardy, a stonemason’s son trained as an architect, set his novels in “Wessex,” a lightly fictionalised version of rural south-west England. Far from the Madding Crowd (1874), The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886), Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1891) and Jude the Obscure (1895) show ordinary people crushed by chance, class and convention. The storm over Jude made him give up novels; he spent his last thirty years writing poetry.

Where to start

Begin with Far from the Madding Crowd.

Thomas Hardy’s books, in order

  1. Far from the Madding Crowd (1874) Read free →
  2. The Return of the Native (1878)
    Free at: Project Gutenberg · Standard Ebooks · LibriVox · Wikisource · Internet Archive · Open Library Find a free edition →
  3. The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886)
    Free at: Project Gutenberg · Standard Ebooks · LibriVox · Wikisource · Internet Archive · Open Library Find a free edition →
  4. Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1891) Read free →
  5. Jude the Obscure (1895)
    Free at: Project Gutenberg · Standard Ebooks · LibriVox · Wikisource · Internet Archive · Open Library Find a free edition →

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More British authors

William Shakespeare · Jane Austen · Mary Shelley · Charlotte Brontë · Emily Brontë · Charles Dickens · George Eliot · Arthur Conan Doyle · Joseph Conrad · Virginia Woolf · George Orwell

Frequently asked questions

Who was Thomas Hardy?

Thomas Hardy, a stonemason’s son trained as an architect, set his novels in “Wessex,” a lightly fictionalised version of rural south-west England. Far from the Madding Crowd (1874), The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886), Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1891) and Jude the Obscure (1895) show ordinary people crushed by chance, class and convention.

What is Thomas Hardy’s most famous book?

Tess of the d’Urbervilles is usually considered Thomas Hardy’s best-known work, followed by Far from the Madding Crowd, The Mayor of Casterbridge, Jude the Obscure.

Which Thomas Hardy book should I read first?

Most readers start with Far from the Madding Crowd.

Is it Thomas Hardy or Hardy?

Both refer to the same writer.

Can I read Thomas Hardy’s books free online?

Yes — 2 of Thomas Hardy’s books are free to read online in Pagine, the free e-reader and reading tracker.

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