Thomas Hardy and the Death of Emma: What His Writings Reveal

Thomas Hardy's poems explore a romantic courtship, marriage, and bereavement, with clues found in his early poems and the names of locations in North Cornwall. His grief-stricken response to Emma Gifford's death raises questions about their unsatisfactory marriage. Hardy's stages of grief are recognized by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler, and his experience can guide others who are alone and bereft after losing their partner.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2024
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Thomas Hardy, the renowned Dorset poet and novelist, often alluded to a romantic courtship, a marriage that encountered challenges, and ultimately, a bereavement marked by the loss of his wife. In his early poems, Hardy referenced various locations in North Cornwall, which coincided with the setting of his courtship with Emma Gifford, who became his first wife. These poems raise intriguing questions. Given the gradual drift in their relationship, leading to separate lives under the same roof, why did Hardy experience such profound grief upon Emma's death, considering the unsatisfactory nature of their marriage? How did he navigate the various stages of grief, which he so eloquently expressed in his poems? These stages, recognized today, are attributed to the work of Swiss-US psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and US expert on grieving and loss David Kessler. Furthermore, how did Hardy manage to overcome this loss and emerge stronger on the other side? Can his experience serve as a guide for others who find themselves alone and bereft after losing their partners?

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399051170