I am not sure if it was always a criticism of him as much as an accurate reflection on much of his work. Perhaps there was a romantic ideal in his time regarding tragedy and melancholy... now we diagnose and treat that perspective.
Jude The Obscure, is there a more accurate telling of a life unlived, merely through accident of birth? This is a sad story to which Hardy brought his powers of observation and depth of understanding.
A brilliant author and poet, I love Hardy, but he really was an old miserablist, even his comic novel, The Trumpet Major, had to have a downbeat ending
One of my favorite author's
The first book I read from the library was Thomas Hardy's-A Pair of Blue Eyes
The criticism is that he is so pessimistic but life for many people was and is a sad business.
The pessimist is rarely disappointed, while the optimist often is.
@@ukrandrthat's beautiful and sadly true
I am not sure if it was always a criticism of him as much as an accurate reflection on much of his work. Perhaps there was a romantic ideal in his time regarding tragedy and melancholy... now we diagnose and treat that perspective.
He is my favorite author, too, but did he have to go as dark as he did in Jude the Obscure to make his point? He hammered his point mercilessly.
Jude The Obscure, is there a more accurate telling of a life unlived, merely through accident of birth? This is a sad story to which Hardy brought his powers of observation and depth of understanding.
It was way more than sad...Mayor of Casterbridge was sad, Jude was devastating...nightmarish...the spectacle that he painted with words. 😢
I have links to Dorset and Hampshire. I’ve read several of Hardy’s novels
The loving poetry wasn't much good to Emma after she was dead and gone.
A brilliant author and poet, I love Hardy, but he really was an old miserablist, even his comic novel, The Trumpet Major, had to have a downbeat ending