Books are a great source of knowledge to man. I am lover of books. I spend most of my spare time in reading. I like to read books on all branches of literature. But I love to read novels most of all. It helps me to learn new words and also help me to gain knowledge regarding the field of literature. I began to read novel at a very young age. I have read the novels written by R.K. Narayan, Mulkh Raj Anand, Khushwant Singh, Mrs. Nayantara Sehgal and Raja Rao. After reading books written by Indian writers in English, I have also read different English novelists like Henry Fielding, Oliver Goldsmith, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Hardy and Somersat Maugham. I have also read a few American authors.
I have found these writers interesting in their own way. It is difficult for me to point out the merits and demerits of
these writers. But I must say that Thomas Hardy is the writer whom I like most. My youthful mind has turned again and again to the novels of Hardy.
I started liking Thomas Hardy after reading his 'Tess'. I was all praise for the beautiful and innocent Tess who went
through the difficulties of life in a heroic manner. After Tess, I read the 'Return of the Native'. This was followed by "Far from the Madding Crowd". 'The Mayor of Caster bridge' and 'Judge the Obscure'.
Hardy impressed me much. He has given me unforgettable characters. I felt interested in Hardy because of man's love for woman and woman's love for man. I also learnt from Hardy's novel that happiness in human life is very rare. I also learnt that man is a tool in the hands of fate. There is some unseen power which is always working to destroy human happiness. Nature also plays a very important role in the novels of Hardy. There is no divine spirit in the objects of nature. His description of landscapes is very beautiful. His rustic characters provide some fun to the reader. On the whole. Hardy gives the impression of a great novelist.
