During the journey to adulthood, Thomas Hardy experienced a loss of faith which coloured his future philosophy with the maxim that humans are at the mercy of indifferent forces. This was emphasised by the gradual erosion of rural life.

The quintessential Victorian novelist of unforgettable characters caught in their inescapable fates: with unfailing honesty and lyrical writing, Thomas Hardy captured his heroes' intimate relationship with the natural and social environment. Here are three of his finest works, presented in their entirety. "Tess of the Durbervilles tells the tragic tale of a poor young girl's coming of age and her traumatic relationships with two men: the wealthy and cold Alec D'Urberville and the beautiful, but unforgiving Angel Clare. Michael Henchard, the title character of "The Mayor of Casterbridge, reaches the pinnacles of power-only to lose everything through folly and bad luck. Set in Hardy's beloved Wessex, and always attentive to the struggles of everyday life in the farming community, "Far From the Madding Crowd centers on Bathsheba Everdene and the men who love her.