About the Author

Thomas Hardy was born on June 2, 1840 in Higher Bockhampton, Dorset. He was a "frail" child and because of this he was not able to start school until he was eight years old. He was interested in architecture and when he was sixteen James Hicks took him on as an apprentice. "In 1870 Hardy was sent to plan a church restoration at St. Juliot in Cornwall. There he met Emma Gifford and she encouraged his writing. They were married in 1874. Most of the books he wrote incorporated real places where he grew up. One of these places was the school house where he attended school. Another novel of his mirrored his courtship with his wife. His wife died in 1912, and in 1914 Hardy remarried his secretary, Florence Dugdale. He wrote some of his best poetry while grieving for his wife. Thomas Hardy died on January 11, 1928, in his home Max Gate which he had designed.

http://www.britainexpress.com/History/bio/hardy.htm