Florence, Nee Small Hardy Paintings

Florence Emily Hardy, née Dugdale, was an English writer who is best known for her marriage to the famous novelist and poet Thomas Hardy. Born on January 12, 1879, in Enfield, Middlesex, Hardy was the daughter of a school headmaster, which afforded her a conducive environment for her early education. She pursued teaching for a period before fully dedicating herself to writing and literary endeavors.

Florence Hardy's association with Thomas Hardy began when she started to work for him as a secretary in 1905. This professional relationship gradually evolved into a personal connection, leading to their marriage in 1914, after the death of Thomas Hardy's first wife, Emma. Despite the significant age difference between them, Florence played a crucial role in managing Thomas Hardy's affairs, especially in his later years, and in promoting his literary legacy after his death in 1928.

Florence Hardy herself was a writer, though her works have not gained as much recognition as her husband's. She authored 'The Book of Baby Birds', an educational book aimed at children, which reflects her interest in nature and animal welfare—a theme somewhat resonant with Thomas Hardy's own focus on the natural world in his works. Following her husband's death, she took it upon herself to preserve his literary reputation, contributing to the editing and publication of some of his posthumous works and writing his official biography. This biography was published in two volumes: 'The Early Life of Thomas Hardy, 1840–1891' and 'The Later Years of Thomas Hardy, 1892–1928', under the name Florence Emily Hardy. However, it is widely acknowledged that Thomas Hardy himself wrote a significant portion of these works, with Florence editing and perhaps completing them.

Florence Hardy's dedication to her husband's legacy is a testimony to her own literary and editorial skills, as well as her deep commitment to his memory. She passed away on October 17, 1937, in Dorchester, Dorset, leaving behind a nuanced legacy intertwined with one of the giants of English literature. Her life and work continue to be a subject of interest for scholars studying the Hardys and their contribution to English literature and culture.