Once you know about Hardy’s life, it's natural to see parallels to the events of his life in his writing. Two women were deeply important to his life and work: his first wife Emma Gifford, and his second wife Florence Dugdale.

Research:

• “Max Gate.” United Kingdom National Trust. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/max-gate
• Morris, Steven.”Discovery of letters shines light on Thomas Hardy's second marriage.” The Guardian. April 1, 2020. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/apr/02/discovery-of-letters-shines-light-on-thomas-hardys-second-marriage
• THOMAS, JANE. “IN DEFENCE OF EMMA HARDY.” The Hardy Society Journal, vol. 9, no. 2, Thomas Hardy Society, 2013, pp. 39–59, https://www.jstor.org/stable/48563706
• Johnson, Ben. “Thomas Hardy.” Historic UK. https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Thomas-Hardy/
• Fincham, Tony. “Life of Thomas Hardy.” Hardy Society. Feb. 3, 2019. https://www.hardysociety.org/life/
• Richardson, Angelique. “Life behind the gates.”  Times Literary Supplement.  April 3, 2020. https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/newly-discovered-letters-thomas-hardy-wife-florence/
• Tomalin, Claire. “Thomas Hardy.” Penguin. 2007.
• Hardy, Thomas, “Wessex Poems and Other Verses.” Macmillan. 1919. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3167/3167-h/3167-h.htm
• Atkinson, Tim. “An old flame that burned bright – An Irishman’s Diary on Thomas Hardy and Emma Gifford.” Irish Times. March 2, 2020. https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/an-old-flame-that-burned-bright-an-irishman-s-diary-on-thomas-hardy-and-emma-gifford-1.4189326
• Norman, Andrew. “Thomas Hardy: Behind the Mask.” The Historic Press. 2011.
• “Thomas Hardy.” Poetry Foundation. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/thomas-hardy