Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was born in Dorsetshire, England, the region that he later called Wessex in his novels. He trained as an architect and began to practice in 1867 but soon became disillusioned and sought another medium for expression. The precision and orderliness he mastered from his first profession is present in the terse clinical style of his poetry. Because of the adult nature of his themes, Hardy was a controversial writer in his day. His works were often banned and he had difficulty finding a publisher for many of his now classic novels. Thomas Hardy Six Pack present the big five books Hardy is famous for and one of his poetic works. There are also various image galleries showcasing Hardy portraits, first edition covers and original illustrations. Thomas Hardy Six Pack Far from the Madding Crowd The Return of the Native A Pair of Blue Eyes Tess of the D’Urbervilles Jude the Obscure Elegy for the Titanic (On the Convergence of the Twain)