Thomas Hardy (1840–1928), English poet, dramatist, and novelist, was born on the Egdon Heath in Dorset. He studied in Dorchester and apprenticed to an architect before leaving for London, where he began to write. Unable to find a public for his poetry, which idealized the rural life, he turned to the novel and met with success as well as controversy. The strong public reaction against some of his darker themes turned him back to writing verse. Today several of his novels are considered masterpieces of tragedy.
Nicholas Rowe’s theater credits include The Madness of George III, Nation, Victory, Whipping It Up, and See How They Run. His television work includes Da Vinci’s Demons, Loving Miss Hatto, The Borgias, Beau Brummel, and A Harlot’s Progress, and his films include Nicholas Nickleby, Lock, Stock, and
Two Smoking Barrels, and Young Sherlock Holmes.
