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Birth
Thomas Hardy was born at Higher Brockhampton, a hamlet to the east of Dorchester. -
Period: to
Lifespan
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First School
Thomas was tutored by his mother, who was well read and knowledgeable, until the age of 8. -
End of Primary Schooling
With little money left to support Thomas, and because the family was not of enough stature to allow him to continue on in college, Thomas returned home and became apprenticed to James Hicks, a local architect. -
Change in Living location
Hardy moved to London in 1860, enrolled in a local Architect office, and began writing in his spare time. He also enrolled in King's College around the same time, to further his education. -
The Poor Man and The Lady
First Novel written. Was written anonymously, but Hardy failed to find a publisher and later destroyed a large part of the novel.
He was encouraged to try another atempt at writing by a fellow friend and poet George Meredith. -
Desperate Remedies
Began to create Wessex, an imaginary county based on his life expiriences. -
Under the Greenwood Tree
Just as with Desperate Remedies, this novel wa published anonymously. 1st big writing success, this novel made his career pick up pace. -
A Pair of Blue Eyes
His firsted novel published under a true name, this novel drew upon Hardy's expiriences courting his wife. It is also known for the first ever recorded use (and possible invention) of the "cliffhanger" in which one of Hardy's characters is literally left hanging off a cliff at the end of a chapter. -
Far From the Madding Crowd
Appeared anonymously as part of the Comhill magazine, and was received with praise. Hardy recieved enough income from his writing that he soon quit architecture and pursued a literary career. -
Return of The Native
A more controversial novel, Hardy had some trouble finding publisher for the book. It was still received with acclaim, and was published in the magazine Belgravia. -
The Mayor of Castorbridge.
A tragedy, and considered one of his best books. -
The Woodlanders
The beginnings of controversy in Hardy's writings. At this point he was already a well established writer, so he knew that he could take risks and venture into genres that few others dared to do. -
Tess D'Urbervilles
Appeared first in a censored version. Even though now it is held in higher regard, at the time it was very controvesial because it challenged sexual ideals of the time. -
Jude the Obscure
Hardy's most criticized and controversial novel, it centers around criticism of revered institutions such as marriage, Christianity and education. Often called "Jude the Obscene" -
Awarded the Order of Merit
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Hardy Becomes ill with Pleurisy
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Dies of pleurisy
