By John Hubbard What do Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy tell us about the influence of family? John Hubbard compares four classic novels to explore how personality, upbringing, work and social circumstances shape the people we become. While Austen emphasises inherited character and family relationships, Hardy is more interested in the transforming power of community, labour and changing social worlds. John Hubbard is a retired English teacher and a National Trust volunteer guide at both Thomas...

By John Hubbard John is a retired English teacher who has had a lifelong interest in architecture. He currently volunteers for the...

By John Hubbard John is a retired English teacher. Currently, he is a volunteer guide for the National Trust at Thomas Hardy's birthplace...