Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was an English novelist and poet, whose work is renowned for its portrayal of the rural life in his native county of Dorset, and its sensitivity to the upheavals of the Victorian era. Trained as an architect, Hardy turned to writing in his early thirties, weaving the pastoral landscape with a profound psychological depth and a keen perception of social mores. His poetic collections, such as 'Time's Laughingstocks, and Other Verses' (1909), demonstrate his mastery of verse and a preoccupation with themes of love, social hierarchy, and the inexorable passage of time. Hardy's verse often reflects the tragic tones and the naturalistic style found in his prose, as he explores the human condition with a palpable sense of fatalism and the inexorable forces of fate. Although better known for his novels, like 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' and 'Far from the Madding Crowd', Hardy considered himself primarily a poet. His literary contributions have left an indelible mark on English literature, influencing a range of subsequent writers and poets. Hardy's work is characterized by a deep pessimism, which nevertheless touches upon the resilience of the human spirit in the face of hardship.