Thomas Hardy (June 2, 1840-January 11, 1928) was a British novelist and poet. He was critical of the social constraints that hindered the lives of those living in 19th-century Victorian society. His novels included Far from the Madding Crowd, Jude the Obscure, and Tess of the d'Urbervilles. He later turned to poetry, focusing on rural society. He is recognized as one of the greatest poets of the twentieth century. Man He Killed; Moments of Vision and Miscellaneous Verses; and Poems of the Past and the Present are representative works.