A Pair of Blue Eyes

Thomas Hardy wrote a book titled A Pair of Blue Eyes which was released in 1873. In the book a young woman named Elfride Swancourt's love triangle with two extremely unlike suitors is described. She adores Stephen Smith a young man from a lower socioeconomic class who is also ambitious and with whom she has a common rural upbringing. Henry Knight is the elder respectable gentleman who stands for London society. Between her heart her wits and the expectations of those around her—her parents and society—Elfride finds herself in a struggle. Many resemblances to Hardy and his first wife Emma Gifford are apparent in the book which is noteworthy.