Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5)
Genre: Biography, Autobiography, Literary Criticism, Classics

Book Review:
The story behind the making of this ''Life'' of Thomas Hardy is almost as fascinating as the life itself. Originally published in two volumes in 1928 and 1930 under the name of his second wife, Florence Hardy, it was long believed to be her work. But after Hardy's death, it was revealed that the biography was, in fact, largely an autobiography, written by Hardy himself and arranged for posthumous publication under his wife's name. This Wordsworth Literary Lives edition brings this unique and captivating work to a new generation of readers.

The result of this curious hybridity is a biography that is both intimate and guarded, revealing and reticent. Hardy gives us a detailed account of his life, from the moment of his birth when he was ''thrown aside as dead'' before being rescued by the midwife, to his long and distinguished career as a novelist and poet. He traces his humble origins, his apprenticeship as an architect, his struggles to get published, and his eventual rise to fame with novels like Far from the Madding Crowd, The Mayor of Casterbridge, and Tess of the d'Urbervilles.

But the book is much more than a simple chronology. It is a rich miscellany of reminiscences, anecdotes, and personal insights. Hardy shares his memories of the Dorset countryside that shaped his imagination, the folk tales and legends of his native Wessex, and his encounters with the literary giants of his age. He also offers intriguing reflections on his own craft, discussing the art of fiction, the nature of poetry, and the challenges of writing.

This is not a tell-all confession; Hardy is famously reticent about his private life and his troubled first marriage. But the book reveals a great deal about Hardy the man—his deep attachment to his native land, his sharp intelligence, his dry wit, and his profound, often pessimistic, vision of human life. And it reveals even more about Hardy the writer, offering invaluable insights into the sources and inspirations for his greatest works.

For any lover of Hardy's novels or poems, this ''Life'' is an essential and endlessly rewarding companion. It is a wonderful miscellany that illuminates the man and his work in equal measure, and it deserves a place on the bookshelf of anyone who appreciates great literature. As Michael Irwin notes in his introduction, ''No lover of his novels or poems should be without it.''