Thomas Wright (writer)

Thomas Wright (1859-1936) was a British writer, biographer, and literary scholar known primarily for his extensive research and writing on the life and works of Thomas Hardy. He was a largely self-educated individual who initially worked as a postman. His deep interest in Hardy led him to correspond with the novelist and eventually to produce the first full-length biography, The Life of Thomas Hardy (1921).

Wright's biography of Hardy, while a monumental undertaking for its time, has been subject to scrutiny and criticism in later years. He had a close relationship with Hardy, and the biography was written with Hardy's cooperation and, to some extent, control. This resulted in a text that presented a partially sanitised and carefully curated version of Hardy's life, particularly regarding his personal relationships. Wright allowed Hardy to heavily edit the proofs and remove information that the author deemed too personal or controversial. Consequently, modern scholarship recognizes the biography as a valuable primary source that reveals as much about Hardy's desired public image as it does about the objective realities of his life.

Beyond his work on Hardy, Wright also wrote biographies and studies on other literary figures including William Cowper, Walter Pater, Edward Fitzgerald, and William Blake. He was a prolific author, contributing significantly to the field of literary biography and criticism during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His works often reflected his independent scholarly approach and his determination to shed light on the lives and works of the writers he admired.