demonstrated academic potential.[1]However,a family of Hardy's social position lacked the means for a university education,and his formal educationended at the age of sixteen when he became apprenticed to James Hicks,a localarchitect.[2] Hardy trained as an architect in Dorchester before moving to London in 1862;there heenrolled as a student at King's College, London.He won prizes from the Royal Institute ofBritish Architects and the Architectural Association.Hardy never felt at home in London.He was acutely conscious ofclass divisions and his social inferiority.However,he was interested in socialreform and was familiar with the works of John Stuart Mill.He was also introduced to the worksofCharles Fourier and Auguste Comte duringthis period by his Dorset friend,Horace Moule.Fiveyears later,concerned about his health,hereturned to Dorset and decided to dedicate himselfto writing. In 1870,while on an architectural mission to restore the parish church of St Juliot in Cornwall,[3]Hardy met and fell in love 10 with Emma Lavinia Gifford,whom he married in 1874.[4][5] Although he later becameestranged from his son her death in 1912 had a traumatic effect on him.After her death,Hardy made a trip to Cornwall to revisit places linked with their courtship,anddemonstrated academic potential.[1]However, a family of Hardy's social position lacked the means for a university education, and his formal education ended at the age of sixteen when he became apprenticed to James Hicks, a local architect.[2] Hardy trained as an architect in Dorchester before moving to London in 1862; there he enrolled as a student at King's College, London. He won prizes from the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Architectural Association. Hardy never felt at home in London. He was acutely conscious of class divisions and his social inferiority. However, he was interested in social reform and was familiar with the works of John Stuart Mill. He was also introduced to the works of Charles Fourier and Auguste Comte during this period by his Dorset friend, Horace Moule. Five years later, concerned about his health, he returned to Dorset and decided to dedicate himself to writing. In 1870, while on an architectural mission to restore the parish church of St Juliot in Cornwall,[3]Hardy met and fell in love with Emma Lavinia Gifford, whom he married in 1874.[4][5] Although he later became estranged from his son her death in 1912 had a traumatic effect on him. After her death, Hardy made a trip to Cornwall to revisit places linked with their courtship, and 10’