Final answer:
The fictional name for towns in Thomas Hardy's stories is Wessex, a semi-fictional representation of the medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom in England's South and Southwest.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fictional name for towns in Thomas Hardy's stories is Wessex. Hardy used this name to describe the semi-fictional region in which he set many of his novels, short stories, and poems. Wessex is an evocation of the medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom that existed in the South and Southwest of England. Notable towns within Hardy's Wessex include Casterbridge (inspired by Dorchester), Weatherbury (partially based on Puddletown), and Mellstock (based on Stinsford and the surrounding area).
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