A Pair of Blue Eyes is a novel by Thomas Hardy printed in 1873. This is the story of Elfride Swancourt, a blue-eyed heroine. Elfride is divided between two lovers, the young, kind-hearted, socially inferior Stephen Smith, an architect; and much older and honest Londoner, Henry Knight, a literary man and Stephen's mentor. She also has to assure the belief of her father, the Rector of Endelstow. This is a moving and touching story about love, social protocols, limitations women faced in the 19th century, honour, sacrifice and loss. This book is set in Hardy's fictional Wessex of southwestern England. Characters are very well illustrated and developed. A Pair of Blue Eyes beyond its fun romance is Hardy's brand commentary on a rebellious shift in English life and culture. It mainly noteworthy as exclusive work of remarkable boldness and originality. A fascinating feature of this book is that it's nearly based on Hardy's relationship with his first wife, Emma Gifford.
Thomas Hardy was born in Dorset, England in 1840. He was the son of Stone mason. He got training as an architect and worked for ten years as an architect in London and Dorset. Hardy wrote his first novel Desperate Remedies, published in 1871. His success changed his mind set and he had quit the architectural field. His novels Tess of the D'urbervilles and Jude the Obscure are considered classical in literature but at the time of publication, he faced criticism. He felt passion for poetry so he left the fiction writing and his eight poetry collection were published. He is famous for his rational and ironical writing. He feels pathetic for the worldly sorrows of humans. He criticized the Victorian belief of God and religion. He expressed his love for nature, deep consideration for poverty and rural life, disappointment for love and life and sorrow for fate and irony. His some notable writings are-Far from the Madding Crowd, The Mayor of Casterbridge, The Return of the Native, etc. He died on 11 January 1928.
