Hardy, Thomas

The English author Thomas Hardy was born in Stinsford near Dorchester in Dorset, the son of a stonemason and local builder. Hardy trained as an architect before moving to London when he was twenty-two years old. He returned to Dorset where he began to write his first novel. Hardy was interested in the writings of Charles Darwin and in naturalism. During his long life he became famous for his detailed descriptions of the way life in rural England and he won many awards. Thomas Hardy became estranged to his first wife and later married his thirty-nine years younger secretary, Florence Emily Dugdale.