Thomas Hardy was an English novelist and poet known for his naturalist works set in his native Dorset. Some key themes in his fiction included the struggles of characters against their passions and circumstances in rural countryside settings. He drew from the oral folklore tradition of Dorset in works like Tess of the D'Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure. Hardy also critiqued Victorian society, particularly regarding the role and treatment of women. Though from humble origins, he became a renowned author through his realistic portrayals of rural life and tragedies faced by ordinary people.