Thomas Hardy was always fascinated by women. While in life his relationships were often fraught and unhappy, through the heroines of his novels we can see into

Thomas Hardy is known for his unconventional portrayal of female characters. In Victorian literature, his women are surprisingly complex, sexual, and even "hero

This book re-examines the critical debate regarding Hardy's attitude to women: apologist or misogynist? With the help of manuscript evidence and references to H