Florence Dugdale

Florence Emily Dugdale (married name Hardy; 12 January 187917 October 1937) was an English journalist, children's short-story writer and teacher. Dugdale was the second wife of the novelist and poet Thomas Hardy, and acted as Hardy's typist in his later years.

Early life and education Dugdale was born on 12 January 1879 in Edmonton, Middlesex (present-day London Borough of Enfield) to Edward Dugdale, a schoolmaster at St Andrew's National School for Boys in Enfield, and Emma Dugdale, a former governess. Dugdale was the second eldest of 5 siblings.

The Hardys were friends of T. E. Lawrence, and Dugdale attended his funeral in 1935.

Dugdale died at Max Gate, the home she had shared with Hardy, of cancer, aged 58. She was cremated in Woking Crematorium, and her ashes were buried in Stinsford churchyard, where Hardy's heart and his first wife were interred.

Publications Illustrated by Edward Julius Detmold. Illustrated by W. E. Evans.