Thomas Hardy 
These sites will give you a
chance to explore Hardy country, known as Wessex. Take a look at the villages,
the heath, the countryside Hardy used in his novels before reading Return
of the Native. Look for drawings of the characters. Explore what you
can find out about the author himself and his ideas.
You'll
enjoy seeing what this site has to offer.
Hardy's
timeline
Pictures
of Hardy's Life
These photos, especially the heath croppers and the weir, will appear in
important points in the novel. Take a good look!
Pictures
from the Novel
More
Pictures from the Novel
You'll
enjoy these photos of Hardy's Dorset countryside, the land he alled Wessex.
Take a look first at Dorset itself, and then explore the villages and the
other sites.
The
Dorset Page -- Hardy's Wessex
While
you are exploring, make note in your journal of interesting things you
discover about Hardy and his homeland. Plan to return to these sites
when you are reading, so that you can see again what your are going to
see today.