Selected Poems

Since Tom Paulin curated this collection, I wonder what themes or periods of Hardy's work he focused on and why. Did he aim to showcase Hardy’s evolution or highlight specific motifs?

Many poems touch on death and loss with a quiet intensity. I’m curious if others felt this was Hardy’s most powerful recurring theme or if it resonated differently for different readers.

I’d love to hear if readers see Hardy as ahead of his time or more rooted in 19th-century poetic conventions, especially regarding his reflections on life’s fleeting nature.