Thomas Hardy’s Literary Dorset

Thomas Hardy’s atmospheric Tess of the D’Obervilles, set in Dorchester near Dorset, made a big impression on me when I read it at a young age, for its depiction of the hard life of agricultural laborers and the restricted possibilities for women. Hardy’s home is now a museum. The modest house and grounds stand in stark contrast with his towering imagination.

I spent days wandering Dorset and surrounding Dorchester countryside and coastal areas that influenced Hardy.

Above is the magnificent Lulworth Cove, where Hardy’s character, Frank Troy, allegedly disappeared in Far From the Madding Crowd.