The Thomas Hardy inspirations behind Turn Back Time

Although Turn Back Time is very much a contemporary novel, there are also a number of literary influences hidden throughout the story, particularly from the work of Thomas Hardy.

Part of the novel is set in Hardy country, and I wanted Erica, the protagonist, to feel in some ways like a modern-day Hardy heroine: complicated, flawed, determined and often wrestling with the expectations placed upon women.

Like Tess, Bathsheba and Eustacia before her, Erica is trying to shape her own destiny, even if she sometimes makes questionable decisions along the way. The pressures may be different in 2026, but many of the underlying themes around identity, freedom and how women are perceived still feel remarkably current.

There are also several small Thomas Hardy “Easter eggs” hidden throughout the novel for readers to spot, from references and names to subtler nods to Hardy’s themes and settings. It was great fun weaving some of those literary influences into a modern story about beauty culture, ageing and reinvention.