Thomas Hardy : Poems - Short stories - Biography

Poetry of Thomas Hardy

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            Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) wrote poetry, novels and short stories, and also worked as a mason and architect. His writing is known for depicting the individual in struggle against destiny, or against the folly of social institutions, as in the sample below.

            The volume of the poetry of Thomas Hardy which has the most content and the lowest price is the edition by Penguin Books : Selected Poems by Thomas Hardy . It contains 183 poems, including the sample given here. (Blue phrases are book store links. Please click on any book title to display the current price and the option to buy.)

            If you want the short stories of Thomas Hardy , the best choice is the edition in the Wordsworth Collection . It is entitled Selected Short Stories by Thomas Hardy .

            The biography of Thomas Hardy by Paul D. l. Turner is available in hardcover only, and is therefore more expensive than a paperback even after your online discount. The title is The Life of Thomas Hardy - A Critical Biography by Paul D. L. Turner . It contains 400 pages, 32 chapters, and illustrations.

The Man He Killed
by Thomas Hardy 

    Had he and I but met
    By some old ancient inn,
    We should have sat us down to wet
    Right many a nipperkin!

    But ranged as infantry
    And staring face to face,
    I shot at him as he at me,
    And killed him in his place.

    I shot him dead because --
    Because he was my foe,
    Just so: my foe of course he was;
    That's clear enough; although

    He thought he's 'list, perhaps,
    Off-hand like -- just as I --
    Was out of work -- had sold his traps --
    No other reason why.

    Yes; quaint and curious war is!
    You shoot a fellow down
    You'd treat if met where any bar is,
    Or help to half-a-crown.

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