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January 11, 1928


On January 11, 1928, the leading Victorian writer, Thomas Hardy, died. Hardy's view of a deterministic universe is part of his tragic view, and we can see his genius in this excerpt from his poem "Last Words to a Dumb Friend," which concerns the death of his cat:

"...
Strange it is this speechless thing,
Subject to our mastering
...
His existence ruled by ours,
Should--by crossing at a breath.
Into safe and shielded death
...
Loom as largened to the sense
...
Of the Imperturbable.

...
And this home which scarcely took
Impress from his little look,
by his faring to the Dim,
Grows all eloquent of him.

..."

The executors of Thomas Hardy burned his letters and notebooks after HIS death.

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