Robust novelist? (5)

I believe the answer is:

hardy

This clue is a double definition.

'robust' is the first definition.
(similar in meaning)

'novelist?' is the second definition.
(Hardy is a novelist)

(Other definitions for hardy that I've seen before include "Resistant to frost etc" , "Author of Jude the Obscure" , "flag-captain" , "Author - robust" , "16 novelist" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish News.

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