An English Victorian author of novels, poems, and short stories, Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) is best known for the classic books Far from the Madding Crowd, The Mayor of Casterbridge, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, and Jude the Obscure. Set mostly in the semi-imagined region of Wessex, Hardy’s fictional works retain their popularity thanks to an accessible style, Romantic plots, and richly drawn characters.
![Title: Jude the Obscure (Centaur Classics) [The 100 greatest novels of all time - #72], Author: Thomas Hardy](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/9788892560635_p0_v1_s192x300.jpg)
