Thomas Hardy is one of the sacred figures in English writing a great poet & a novelist with a world reputation. His life was also extraordinary: from the poverty of rural Dorset he went on to become the Grand Old Man of English life & letters his last resting place in Westminster Abbey. This seminal biography by our leading biographer covers Hardys illegitimate birth his rural upbringing his escape to London in the 1860s his marriages his status as a bestselling novelist & in later life his supreme achievements as a poet. ...

Paradox ruled Thomas Hardys life. His birth was almost his death; he became one of the great Victorian novelists & reinvented himself as one of the twentieth-centurys greatest poets; he was an unhappy husband but a desolate widower; he wrote bitter attacks on the English class system yet prized the friendship of aristocrats. In the hands of Claire Tomalin Thomas Hardy the novelist poet neglectful husband & mourning lover all come intensely alive. ...

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was born in Dorset. He left school at sixteen to work as an apprentice for an architect who specialized in church restoration. He made his reputation as a novelist & it wasn't until after the publication of his last novel The Well-beloved in 1897 that he dedicated himself to writing poetry. ...

Packed full of analysis & interpretation historical background discussions & commentaries York Notes will help you get right to the heart of the text youre studying whether its poetry a play or a novel. Youll learn all about the historical context of the piece; find detailed discussions of key passages & characters; learn interesting facts about the text; & discover structures patterns & themes that you may never have known existed. In the Advanced Notes specific sections on critical thinking & advice on how to read critically yourself enable you to engage with the text in new & different ways. Full glossaries self-test questions & suggested reading lists will help you fully prepare for your exam while internet links & references to film TV theatre & the arts combine to fully immerse you in your chosen text. York Notes offer an exciting & accessible key to your text enabling you to develop your ideas & transform your studies! ...

An instant sellout on first publication this volume has been expanded to include Thomas Heatherwicks magnificent Olympic cauldron. Written in close collaboration with the designer himself the book offers a highly personal in-depth & behind-the-scenes look at all aspects of his creative design & manufacturing processes. Each of the more than 140 fully illustrated projects is accompanied by a text explaining in Heatherwicks words the design question it posed & the creative & practical processes used to address it. Projects are organized chronologically & bookended by an introduction setting out the studios philosophy & a reference section. ...

Aimed at the 3-8 age group this innovative book applies the Haynes treatment to one of the most popular childrens characters. Inspired by the world-famous Haynes manuals this book explains how Thomas works how his driver operates him & how the engineers of the Sodor railway keep him in tip-top condition. Some of Thomas friends also feature with Henrys overhaul for example offering the chance for young readers to see how a steam engine is taken apart & refitted. This brightly designed book will delight children & parents alike. ...

This title helps you to learn all about Thomas & the Steam Team in this treasury of stories! This collection features six splendid stories featuring Thomas & the unbeatable Steam Team! It lets you journey through the Island of Sodor with these wonderfully vivid tales of Thomas Edward Percy & other favourite engines. From dangerous floods to exciting rescues these specially selected stories are sure to be Really Useful for playtime & bedtime. ...

Young children will love joining in & making the Toot! Beep! Whoosh! Peep! Vroom! & Shhh! noises when you share this rhyming story about Thomas & his friends. The sturdy board format is perfect for young children to handle themselves. The pictures contain favourite characters & plenty of detail so there are lots of things for you & your child to look at & to talk about together. ...

In the wild & inhospitable far north in the land of Scandinavian myths & runic legends Viking warriors discover a child in a space capsule. Leif Haraldson adopts him & gives him the names of his gods: Thorgal aergisson son of Thor (god of lightning) & son of Aegir (master of the sea). The tale takes place in the seventh centur & draws its narrative power from the imaginary world of magic spells & legends where men & gods mix. ...

Sometimes when he didn't know he was being watched Meggie would look at him & try desperately to imprint his face upon her brain's core.. . And he would turn to find her watching him a look in his eyes of haunted grief a doomed look. She understood the implicit message or thought she did; he must go back to the Church & his duties. Never again with the same spirit perhaps but more able to serve. For only those who have slipped & fallen know the vicissitudes of the way.. . ...