What is your earliest memory of Thomas Hardy? Tell us about it here.

[Bionic Jean, Moderator]

Great observations Brian - interesting that they are both late novels too (Persuasion being Jane Austen's last ... though if she'd lived a little longer, who knows what else she might have written) and both feel quite contemplative.

I hadn't really thought of comparing these 2 authors before, though.

I love hearing which of Thomas Hardy's novels were the first anyone read, and if they remain a favourite!

[Joseph]

The first memories of Thomas Hardy is reading "Jude The Obscure", and "Return Of The Native" in high school around1981. A few years later I read and saw the film of "Tess Of The D'Urbervilles. "

[Tracey]

I first read Tess of the D’Urbervilles in my late teens and was so moved by it I admit I shed some tears. I have just read The Mayor of Casterbridge which I enjoyed so much that I decided I wanted to read more Hardy next year. I was happy to find this group. I have read 9 of his books but look forward to reading more,

[Bionic Jean, Moderator]

That's when I first read Tess too! And a few others of us, as I've learned.

Do please come on to the Tess of the D’Urbervilles threads LINK HERE, and have a look through, since it's such a special novel for you! I'm sure you will find something of interest, with special info and images to start each Phase. Add your thoughts if you like too!

We are about to start the final phase, and I think those of us who know the novel - and those who don't yet - will be moved again, just as you were :)

[Alessia]

I watched the movie "Jude" when I was Eleven, and the Memory of It stayed with me for years. i have Red the book for the First Time four years ago, I believe the movie made better choices in some points but It was equally extraordinary

[Bionic Jean, Moderator]

Oh Alessia - someone else has said they read/watched that very young and I was horrified! Yes, it's a incredible novel, but I can imagine how it stayed with you!

Welcome to the group, and do tell us a little about yourself LINK HERE, if you like :)

[Darrin]

I did not have any encounters with Thomas Hardy until high school and not in the way one might expect, in a classroom setting. Throughout my high school years, during the summer months when we had summer break, I worked in a used book store called the Book Corral. I sorted and shelved books and sometimes helped customers find books in the store. I was paid in cash and was able to take any books that I wanted.

At the time and up until about 10 years ago, I mainly read genre fiction...sci fi, fantasy, the occasional mystery but studiously avoided the classics unless it was a class requirement but even then, in high school, Hardy was not an author we read in any of my classes.

We did, however, have a number of books by Hardy in the bookstore that would come and go and one of these was Far From the Madding Crowd. Every time I had to shelve the book or came across it as I was working in the store I kept thinking what the hell does "madding" mean? I used to think it was some spelling difference between the US and the UK of the word, "maddening".

It was only much later that I finally looked it up and understood what the word meant. I still haven't read the book, however, and look forward to doing so with this group.

[Bionic Jean, Moderator]

What a great story, and what a fabulous job for a teenager, Darrin! And hopefully it won't be too long before we read that novel together :)

Welcome to the group!