Thomas Hardy (1840–1928), an English naturalist author, set his novels and poetry in the fictional Wessex, depicting characters struggling with fate and society. While he prioritized poetry, his novels like Tess of the d’Urbervilles brought fame and financial success. His poetry, published later in life, gained acclaim in the 1950s–60s “Movement.” Hardy’s 1873 novel A Pair of Blue Eyes introduced the “cliffhanger,” with a protagonist left hanging off a cliff, shaping literary suspense. Blending