Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy was born on June 2nd, 1840 in the village of Higher Bockhampton (Southwestern England). His father was a stone-mason and a violinist. His mother enjoyed reading and retelling folklore and legends popular in the region. Rural living, with its cyclical nature and strong oral culture, profoundly shaped the author. From his family and origins, Hardy gained the interests that would influence his life and appear in his novels: architecture and music, the lifestyles of the country folk,...