Hardy, Thomas

Thomas (1840-), an English novelist. He was born in Dorsetshire. He studied architecture and practiced his profession for some years, but since 1873 has devoted his time to literature. Among his best known novels may be mentioned Far from the Madding Crowd, The Return of the Native, Two on a Tower, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, The Three Wayfarers, and Under the Greenwood Tree. Hardy is recognized as the foremost of living English novelists.