The Works of Thomas Hardy ~ Presented by Elf

The Life of Thomas Hardy

1840 Thomas Hardy born on June 2nd, in Higher Bockhampton.

1848 Hardy begins attending Julia Martin's school in Bockhampton.

1853 Hardy studies Latin, French and begins reading widely.

1856 Hardy is articled to the local architect John Hicks. The office is next to Barnes' school. Around this time Hardy meets and studies with Horace Moule, going through the Greek dramatists under his tutelage. Hardy witnesses the execution of Martha Browne in August.

1862 Hardy travels to London to work under Arthur Blomfield. While finding his way in London he attends the Exhibition. He explores the cultural life of London, visiting museums, attending plays and operas, and begins writing poetry in earnest.

1865 Hardy publishes his first article, "How I Built Myself a House."

1867 Hardy returns to Dorset and works for Hicks. Hardy begins considering writing as a profession and writes the unpublished novel: The Poor Man and the Lady.

1869 Hardy works for Crickmay.

1870 Hardy travels to St. Juliot to work on the restoration of the church. Here he meets Emma Lavinia Gifford.

1871 Desperate Remedies published.

1872 Under the Greenwood Tree published.

1873 A Pair of Blue Eyes published. Hardy now relinquishes architecture as a career to write full-time. Horace Moule commits suicide in Cambridge.

1874 Far From the Madding Crowd appears serially. In September Hardy marries Emma, travels to Paris, and sets up house in London. He moves around a bit and eventually settles in Sturminster Newton.

1876 The Hand of Ethelberta published.

1878 The Return of the Native published. With it Hardy publishes a map. Hardy moves again and with the success of this novel, begins to experience life as a celebrity. He joins the Saville Club.

1880 The Trumpet-Major is published -- it is one of Hardy's earliest treatments of the Napoleonic war.

1881 A Laodicean is published. It was written while Hardy was bed-ridden. Hardy moves back to Dorset.

1882 Two on a Tower published.

1883 Hardy designs and supervises construction of his Dorchester home, Max Gate.

1886 The Mayor of Casterbridge published soon after Hardy moves into Max Gate.

1887 The Woodlanders published. Hardy tours the continent. When they return, he begins habit of visiting London for "the season."

1888 Wessex Tales, Hardy's first collection of short stories, is published.

1891 A Group of Noble Dames published. There is a small uproar after the publication of Tess of the d'Urbervilles.

1892 Hardy's father dies. He begins serialization of The Pursuit of the Well-Beloved.

1893 Meets Florence Henniker.

1894 Life's Little Ironies, Hardy's third collection of short stories, is published.

1895 Osgood-Mcilvaine begins bringing out the first collected edition of Hardy's works. The set includes the first edition of Jude the Obscure.

1897 The Well-Beloved appears in volume form after extensive revisions.

1898 Hardy's first volume of poems, Wessex Poems, appears. He is now, officially, an ex-novelist.

1902 Poems of the Past and Present is published.

1903 Part One of The Dynasts, Hardy extended verse-play about Napoleon and the clash of powers he brought about, appears. Hardy intends it as his masterpiece.

1906 The Dynasts: Part Two appears.

1908 The Dynasts: Part Three is published.

1909 Time's Laughingstocks.

1910 Hardy receives the Order of Merit and the Freedom of Dorchester.

1912 A "definitive" edition of Hardy's works, the Wessex Edition, is published. It is a chance for Hardy to thoroughly revise his body of work. The year ends on a low note, though, as Emma suddenly dies on November 27.

1913 Hardy's final book of short stories, A Changed Man, is published. Hardy makes a pilgrimage to the sites of his and Emma's early love.

1914 Satires of Circumstance is published. It contains the "Poems of 1912-13," written in memory of Emma.

1914 Hardy marries Florence Dugdale. W.W.I. breaks out, contributing to Hardy's pessimism.

1917 Moments of Vision.

1922 Late Lyrics and Earlier.

1923 The Famous Tragedy of the Queen of Cornwall.

1925 Human Shows. These later years see Hardy working on his autobiography, published posthumously under Florence's name.

1928 Winter Words is published posthumously: Hardy died on January 11. His ashes are buried in Poet's Corner, Westminster Abbey, and his heart is buried in Emma's grave. The Early Life of Thomas Hardy is published under Florence's name.

1930 The Later Years of Thomas Hardy published under Florence's name.

1840	Thomas Hardy born on June 2nd, in Higher Bockhampton.
1848	Hardy begins attending Julia Martin's school in Bockhampton.
1853	Hardy studies Latin, French and begins reading widely.
1856	Hardy is articled to the local architect John Hicks. The office is next to Barnes' school. Around this time Hardy meets and studies with Horace Moule, going through the Greek dramatists under his tutelage. Hardy witnesses the execution of Martha Browne in August.
1862	Hardy travels to London to work under Arthur Blomfield. While finding his way in London he attends the Exhibition. He explores the cultural life of London, visiting museums, attending plays and operas, and begins writing poetry in earnest.
1865	Hardy publishes his first article, "How I Built Myself a House."
1867	Hardy returns to Dorset and works for Hicks. Hardy begins considering writing as a profession and writes the unpublished novel: The Poor Man and the Lady.
1869	Hardy works for Crickmay.
1870	Hardy travels to St. Juliot to work on the restoration of the church. Here he meets Emma Lavinia Gifford.
1871	Desperate Remedies published.
1872	Under the Greenwood Tree published.
1873	A Pair of Blue Eyes published. Hardy now relinquishes architecture as a career to write full-time. Horace Moule commits suicide in Cambridge.
1874	Far From the Madding Crowd appears serially. In September Hardy marries Emma, travels to Paris, and sets up house in London. He moves around a bit and eventually settles in Sturminster Newton.
1876	The Hand of Ethelberta published.
1878	The Return of the Native published. With it Hardy publishes a map. Hardy moves again and with the success of this novel, begins to experience life as a celebrity. He joins the Saville Club.
1880	The Trumpet-Major is published -- it is one of Hardy's earliest treatments of the Napoleonic war.
1881	A Laodicean is published. It was written while Hardy was bed-ridden. Hardy moves back to Dorset.
1882	Two on a Tower published.
1883	Hardy designs and supervises construction of his Dorchester home, Max Gate.
1886	The Mayor of Casterbridge published soon after Hardy moves into Max Gate.
1887	The Woodlanders published. Hardy tours the continent. When they return, he begins habit of visiting London for "the season."
1888	Wessex Tales, Hardy's first collection of short stories, is published.
1891	A Group of Noble Dames published. There is a small uproar after the publication of Tess of the d'Urbervilles.
1892	Hardy's father dies. He begins serialization of The Pursuit of the Well-Beloved.
1893	Meets Florence Henniker.
1894	Life's Little Ironies, Hardy's third collection of short stories, is published.
1895	Osgood-Mcilvaine begins bringing out the first collected edition of Hardy's works. The set includes the first edition of Jude the Obscure.
1897	The Well-Beloved appears in volume form after extensive revisions.
1898	Hardy's first volume of poems, Wessex Poems, appears. He is now, officially, an ex-novelist.
1902	Poems of the Past and Present is published.
1903	Part One of The Dynasts, Hardy extended verse-play about Napoleon and the clash of powers he brought about, appears. Hardy intends it as his masterpiece.
1906	The Dynasts: Part Two appears.
1908	The Dynasts: Part Three is published.
1909	Time's Laughingstocks.
1910	Hardy receives the Order of Merit and the Freedom of Dorchester.
1912	A "definitive" edition of Hardy's works, the Wessex Edition, is published. It is a chance for Hardy to thoroughly revise his body of work. The year ends on a low note, though, as Emma suddenly dies on November 27.
1913	Hardy's final book of short stories, A Changed Man, is published. Hardy makes a pilgrimage to the sites of his and Emma's early love.
1914	Satires of Circumstance is published. It contains the "Poems of 1912-13," written in memory of Emma.
1914	Hardy marries Florence Dugdale. W.W.I. breaks out, contributing to Hardy's pessimism.
1917	Moments of Vision.
1922	Late Lyrics and Earlier.
1923	The Famous Tragedy of the Queen of Cornwall.
1925	Human Shows. These later years see Hardy working on his autobiography, published posthumously under Florence's name.
1928	Winter Words is published posthumously: Hardy died on January 11. His ashes are buried in Poet's Corner, Westminster Abbey, and his heart is buried in Emma's grave. The Early Life of Thomas Hardy is published under Florence's name.
1930	The Later Years of Thomas Hardy published under Florence's name.