Two English Masters Charles Dickins [and] Thomas Hardy

Examines the lives and times of two great English authors, Charles Dickens (19th c.) and Thomas Hardy (mid. 19th-early 20th c.). Each author is introduced by a biographical essay "The Writer's Life", other sections: "Reader's Guide" which outlines the plot of at least one work from each author, exploring the characters, themes and ideas and discussing what makes it a classic work and, within this section, a beautifully illustrated "Who's Who" which provides an essential guide to understanding the central characters in the story; "The Writer at Work" which draws the reader into the individual world of the writer, examining what each sought to achieve in both a literary career and in life itself and, within this section, "Works in Outline" which summarizes, in words and pictures, other popular stories and characters by the author - and in Hardy's case, poems; and lastly, "Sources and Inspiration" which illuminates the relationships between the personal events which shaped the era, providing a historical backdrop for the works studied.