Thomas hardy - (1840 - 1928) English poet, novelist and dramatist. Born near Dorchester in Dorset, the son of a stonemason. As well as his poetry, there was a flood of novels - including 'Jude the Obscure', 'Far from the Madding Crowd', 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles', and 'Desperate Remedies', all of which were based in fictitious locations in his home area of Wessex.