Jude the Obscure Author Thomas HARDY is a renowned English novelist and poet of the Victorian era. He is best known for his novels such as Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Far from the Madding Crowd, and Jude the Obscure. HARDY's works often explore the struggles of rural life and the human condition. His writing style is characterized by its realism and dark themes. HARDY's works remain popular to this day and are considered some of the greatest works of literature in the English language.