'The emotion of all ages'

 

“My opinion is that a poet shouldexpress the emotion of all the ages and the thought of his own.” –Thomas Hardy

 

While Hardy wrote poetry throughouthis life and regarded himself primarily as a poet, his first collection was notpublished until 1898 on his 58th birthday.  Born inDorset, England on this date in 1840, he initially gained fame as the author ofnovels, including many that are still selling, and are still being made intomodern day movies, like Far from the Madding Crowd and Tessof the d'Urbervilles.

 

Hardy wrote to examine and challengethe social constraints on the lives of those living in VictorianEngland.  He criticized beliefs, especially the ones relatingto marriage, education and religion, that limited people's lives and causedunhappiness, making him a popular advocate for ordinary people.

 

A prolific writer, he produced 20novels, dozens and dozens of short stories, several plays, and 15 volumes ofpoetry – a medium in which he could share ideas and explore new causes even inhis later years.  He literally composed poetry until his finalbreath, dictating his last poem to his wife while on his death bed in 1928.

 

Time changes everything,” Hardywrote about his willingness to try new things, “except something within uswhich is always surprised by change.”