Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Penguin Classics)

Book Description

Edited with Notes by Tim Dolin and an Introduction by Margaret R. Higonnet

Customer Reviews:

Thumbs up from the Average Joe.......2007-09-25

I agree with mulcahey (five stars, Sept. 23, 2003), who sounds like a college professor. I'm not a scholarly reader. I miss the hidden meanings, the underlying philosophy, and so on. I read purely for enjoyment (and sometimes education--read Lolita if you want to discover new words).

In addition to what mulcahey said, the book is simply highly enjoyable to read. It's very touching. It's the kind of reading experience that will leave you thinking about it for days or weeks. The writing style is elegant and poetic. Anyone who has tried to write will appreciate the grace and beauty.

It's not a light read, like something you take on a plane to ward off boredom. It's the kind of read that takes a little effort. The reward is definitely there, however.

Lush landscapes and thought patterns.......2007-08-03

By today's standards certain passages of this book may seem rather vague and subtle, but they were shocking when first written--enough that the book was subject to heavy censorship--vital passages from it were removed. And that is really what makes this book so grand. Its take on the double standards of the society in which fictional Tess lived may seem very distant from today's post-60's equality society, but it was very real then.

The book follows Tess' journey through the English countryside, but what makes it so fascinating is the constant flow of her thought patterns as she tries to rationalize the hand she has been dealt. The modern reader may be befuddled, as her thoughts are representative of another culture and another time, but what is fascinating is the little insights on human nature that shine through. The joy she feels tempered by the despair in her past. The ignorant self-righteousness of overzealous youth. The mistakes that even very good, well-meaning people can make, without realizing it, that hurt others deeply. We hope for her as she lives through the initial tragedy, the slow recovery, the surge of joy she experiences, we are disgusted at the hypocritical betrayal that eventually leads to her final breakdown.

The prose itself too has a personality, often taking time to smell the roses and indulge in the lush scenery, fascinating historical anecdotes and social interactions that Tess deals with on a daily basis. For those who over-glamorize the past, here is a very honest look at the physical and mental hardships people faced in it. Hardy quotes Ascham: 'We find a short way, by a long wandering.'

Truly a Great Novel.......2007-07-05

When I saw the depressing amount of 1-, 2-, and 3-star reviews for this novel, I had to wonder what had gotten into the general populace. Then I read the actual reviews, and realized something. They are reading this for pleasure, yes - but why in the world to people turn to a classic novel for a fast-paced, action-packed story? (Yes, I quote.)

Tess's is a dark tale, a depressing tale, a tale with no perky moments to speak of (seeing as how we all know it'll get that much worse should anything good happen). The language is poetic and ethereal, with descriptions of incredible beauty that I would give anything to have written and an overtone of intense tragedy and ill-fated cruelty. The characters are all conflicted and in turmoil, oppressed by the moral standards of the day, and Tess is likeable, as opposed to Emily Bronte's Catherine Earnshaw, say. I would like to mention that I chose this book to write a ten-page analytical paper on, know it cover-to-cover, and know that it is SO much more meaningfull when one stops to take in the paragraphs that scream, "Pay attention to ME!!!" I would also mention that I am not a college professor. I read this as a high-school freshman, which goes to show that this isn't just a book for the elite.

And in relation to all the readers who feel that Hardy is a bad author? I always believe that people who act as though they can write a classic far better than the author really ought to try their hand at writing a story that will survive the ages as well as Tess. Hardy writes in lyrical prose, in similar style to his poetry, and though I completely understand wanting to read "mind candy", I don't understand expecting books accepted as real literature to do the trick. Maybe try a trashy novel first, and read Tess to cleanse the palate.

This is, ultimately, my favorite novel of all time. Naturally, I have many more to read, but of all those I have tried, I have never read another that so seamlessly combined luminous tragedy, heartwrending romance, and cruel fate in a novel as beautiful as it is painful.

Emotionally Difficult to Read, but Hardy's Beautiful Prose Carries You Along.......2007-05-01

I went into "Tess of the D'urbervilles" with full knowledge of the harsh fate waiting for Tess, but that knowledge still could not prepare me for how harrowing and painful that journey was for her, and the reader. The character of Tess is so moral, innocent, kind, and unselfish against the society that is anything but, that Hardy's message of fate and social hypocrisy reveals itself full force in the novel. Tess has a love for life and an optimism that takes the harshest and cruelest society to beat down, and that is heartbreaking to behold.

I thought this was going to be a stuffy English novel, despite the fact I quite enjoy (most) Victorian novels I read. However, I discovered that Hardy's prose flows well and is even beautifully poetic. Some of the best lines come from Tess's mouth, showing that she is not only morally upright, but also smart and incredibly perceptive.

Hardy has a great way with words; romantic scenes are intensely passionate, emotional letters drip with feeling, and narrations delve into the feelings and thoughts of the characters so that the reader can understand, pity, empathize and sympathize with them. Most surprising perhaps is Hardy's understanding of the female mind; I think he has developed Tess into a believable and realistic heroine, and he has many interesting things to say about the differences of the genders, especially during that time period.

"Tess of the D'urbervilles" is a gorgeous yet heart-breaking novel. Not only does it entertain with its poetic prose and social themes, the novel also opens one's mind to the hypocrisy of the times; hypocrisies that even now may still appear in the thoughts and actions of people in this "modern" society.

Read Tess...but please also read the alternative.......2007-04-26

The popularity of Hardy's Tess makes me wonder why the apparent context in which the book was written seems to have been lost. Twelve years before Hardy's Tess hit the shelf George MacDonald's Paul Faber: Surgeon received a less controversial if almost equally popular release. While the two books could hardly be more different it is interesting that the fundamental plot elements are identical. A careful comparison of the scene in both books immediately following the confession of the recently-married protagonist of her youthful indiscretion to her unforgiving husband will reveal a passage where Hardy essentially quotes from MacDonald--and then flatly contradicts him. MacDonald's Faber is a longer, more complex story--perhaps less accessible than Hardy's. Where Hardy finds despair, cynicism, and ultimately destruction, MacDonald mercifully provides forgiveness, hope, and evidence of the divine in humanity.

Other reviewers have heartily recommended that you read Tess to discover how accurately great literature can portray life's struggles. If you liked the authenticity and poignancy of Tess but felt there must be another side of the story, please read Paul Faber.

Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Modern Critical Interpretations)

Average customer rating:

Trapped in Victorian England
A classic, but depressing
Extraordinary
Profound, moving
Emotionally Difficult to Read, but Hardy's Beautiful Prose Carries You Along

Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Modern Critical Interpretations)

Manufacturer: Chelsea House Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

British | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0877547440

Book Description

Because of the harsh treatment the heroine of Tess of the D'Urbervilles received, Thomas Hardy stopped writing novels altogether. However, Hardy's masterful presentation of a strong woman destroyed by intolerant Nature is now considered one of his most grimly compelling satires of circumstance.

The title, Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles, part of Chelsea House Publishers' Modern Critical Interpretations series, presents the most important 20th-century criticism on Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles through extracts of critical essays by well-known literary critics. This collection of criticism also features a short biography on Thomas Hardy, a chronology of the author's life, and an introductory essay written by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University.

Download Description

The chance discovery by a young peasant woman that she is a descendant of the noble family of d'Urbervilles is to change the course of her life. Tess Durbeyfield leaves home on the first of her fateful journeys, and meets the ruthless Alec d'Urberville. Thomas Hardy's impassioned story tells of hope and disappointment, rejection and enduring love.

Customer Reviews:

Trapped in Victorian England.......2007-08-30

Tess Durbeyfield never really has a chance. Her father is a poor alcoholic and her mother is a slightly feeble-minded optimist. Tess has six younger siblings, and they are just barely scratching out a living in Victorian England. When her father hears that he is actually descended from a noble family, the D'Urbervilles, his heart swells with pride. When he and his wife find out that there is a rich family sharing their ancestral name living nearby, a plan is formed.

Tess, who is seventeen, will be sent to this other branch of their family, to claim kin. They will take her in, clean her up, and marry her off to a high-class gentleman who will be able to provide for Tess and the rest of the family. Off Tess goes to meet the other branch of her family. Little does she know that these D'Urbervilles are actually a recently rich blind old mother and her son by the name of Stokes, who have plucked D'Urberville out of an old book to adopt as their own, as it sounds classier than their real name.

Tess' connection to their family is never made clear to the old blind woman. Instead, her son Alec takes Tess in, gives her a job, and takes care of her day-to-day routine in his mother's name. He also makes romantic proposals to her, but she always turns him down. One late evening chance finds them alone together in the countryside, and Alec rapes her.

Tess goes back home, without the rich husband her parents expected, without any advancement in the world, and without her maidenhood or her dignity. Slowly she begins to piece her life back together. Three years later finds her at work as a milkmaid on a dairy farm. She catches the eye, then the heart, of a man there learning the trade. Angel Clare is the son of a minister, who quickly becomes determined to win over Tess. But will her past continue to haunt her?

I simply couldn't help myself from viewing this story through the lens of my own life and time, which made me so angry and frustrated with Tess. She allowed herself to be manipulated by everyone, from her parents who wanted her to marry rich in order to help their situation, to Alec and Angel, who each used her as they wished and discarded her when convenient. Never did Tess question her own fault in her situation; she simply accepted that everyone had the right to treat her like they did because of her rape as a teenager. It was horrifying for me to read her begging Angel for some tiny morsel of affection or forgiveness. Although I finished the book, Tess had lost my loyalty far from the end. She simply wasn't worth rooting for.

A classic, but depressing.......2007-08-03

Tess of the d'Urbervilles is a classic novel written in the late 1800's about a naive country girl struggling through life and who is ultimately destroyed. Don't expect a warm and fuzzy Jane Austen story from Thomas Hardy.

Hardy turns Tess into the beautiful and simple heroine of his story who is abused, beaten, and crushed by men, poverty, and class. According to Hardy, Tess never had a chance. Tess is sent to the wealthy d'Urberville family to beg help of her "cousins", but while there she is used and raped by Alec d'Urberville. Runined, Tess returns home to give birth to and bury her illegitamite baby. She travels to another village and becomes a milkmaid, trying to start a new life and forget her past. But, alas! She meets Angel Clare, a vicor's son and gentleman, who falls in love with her and wants to marry her. Despite her past and her fears of ruining his good name, Tess marries Angel without telling him her past. Her conscious gets the better of her, and after Angel confesses to her (on their wedding night) that he had been intimate with a woman, Tess blurts out her story. Angel is disgusted and despises Tess, telling her he can't stand to live with her anymore. Tess, in desperation and despair, turns to Alec d'Urberville for help. Angel returns to "forgive" Tess, only to find her living with d'Urberville as his pampered pet. In a fit of anger at fate, Tess murders d'Urberville and seals her own death sentence.

It is a good book, but I must confess that I don't think I understood all that the author was trying to say. I think Hardy wanted to say that Tess was good and pure because she was close to nature and simple. The "gentlemen" in the story were fallen men only concerned with class, theology, morality, etc. Hardy seemed to say that poor, simple people (Tess) were better than wealthy society who debated religion and led decadent lifestyles (Angel and d'Urberville).

I must also admit that I skipped many boring paragraphs of Hardy's rantings on English countryside, Nature, theology, etc., and went back to the main story of Tess. That could be why I can't decide just WHAT he was trying to say! It also annoyed me that Tess was NEVER in control of her own destiny and was abused repeatedly without a break. But, maybe that was the point.

If you want a book that will make you cry (or make you depressed) give it a shot. Otherwise, stick to Austen, Dickens, or Bronte.

Extraordinary.......2007-04-16

I had read Thomas Hardy's Far From the Madding Crowd many many years ago for school and it left me cold. I was young. Hardy was wordy. And flashing swords wielded by a soldier in a scarlet tunic hardly left me breathless as it was supposed to have done when the book was published.

So these many years later I decided to give Hardy another chance with Tess and I was not disappointed.

Dull and boring prose has become joyous and unexpected. Staid characters colourful. And plodding plot amazingly poignant. But it has nothing I am sure with Tess as opposed to Madding but rather the distance my life has travelled since reading Madding.

Tess is wonderful book with a contemporary message about actions, decisions, and reputation. He paints Tess in a sympathetic light but leaves room for us to doubt that this is entirely the world acting upon her. It may even be read as a cautionary tale of chosing duty over our own happiness, or even others importunity over our own intuition.

It was contemplative for these many years later I could feel Tess's anger and frustration and finally acceptance of a life she did not want while ever so briefly tasting the life she knew she deserved.

I have to say the ending surprised and disappointed me. Rather like a Kafka novel it seems that Hardy just wanted to wind things up rather than finish them. In fact it rather seems to me that he may have tried different endings and for some particular reason preferred this one over the rest. Or maybe because I believe that like Tess she deserved a break I was disappointed when it was short and fleeting. If I read his afterword correctly it seems that I was not alone in my sentiments about his ending as he defends his sympathies and his predilections in it.

It is obvious that my first experience with Hardy came at an age when not enough water had flowed under my bridge. Thankfully I gave him another try.

Tess is simply brilliant.

Profound, moving.......2007-03-21

But if you get the Wordsworth Classics edition, don't read the introduction until you finish! I'm going to make this standard practice for all classics from now on. I was hoping for some background on Hardy but before I even realized what had happened I'd read a summary of the entire story in one paragraph, plot twists and all. And it really did ruin the climactic last couple chapters for me. I hate it when editors / publishers assume that if a novel is famous and critically acclaimed then the reader must already be familiar with the story. Completely false: In this day and age reading for pleasure isn't as widespread as it used to be and the old classics are fading into the distance. The story in "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" is certainly not common knowledge anymore, so when you discover a gem like this I beg you not to ruin it for yourself by reading the canned introduction.

Still a fabulous read, certainly. The story centers on the simple, sincere, hard-working farmgirl Tess Durbeyfield who is fated to stumble into a few serious and unfortunate challenges over the couple years that the novel spans. Hardy spins a truly magnificently written and plotted tale in narrating poor Tess's adventures & mishaps.

I read another Hardy classic, Far From the Madding Crowd, several years ago and enjoyed it immensely. For the life of me I can't remember any of the story in that novel except that the central character was rather strange, but a few pages of "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" instantly resurrected my memories of Hardy's unmatched power of narration. He truly brings every scene and character to full animation and vitality, does the poignant scenes full justice, and even handles humorous situations with aplomb.

Easily five stars, one of the best classics I've ever read. Just don't read the introduction!

Emotionally Difficult to Read, but Hardy's Beautiful Prose Carries You Along.......2007-02-28

Average customer rating:

Tess of the D'Urbervilles
Thomas Hardy
Manufacturer: Chivers Audio Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0754055442

Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Norton Critical Editions)

Average customer rating:

Defective edition
Not quite queen of the world.
Haunting...
The incredible strength of one woman
This is one of the greatest Victorian novels!

Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Norton Critical Editions)
Thomas Hardy
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Literature & Fiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0393959031

Customer Reviews:

Defective edition.......2006-08-05

I've enjoyed reading this edition for its critical essays and helpful footnotes, but the copy I ordered from Amazon was missing thirty pages. (It turns out that pages 14 through 44 are printed twice, resuming at page 77). They may have corrected the problem in other copies, but don't assume that you'll get the whole book!

Not quite queen of the world........2001-05-31

Morality is subject to some rolling blackouts in this book. At the end, the law stepped in and made sure that the destruction was mutual. Law seems to be particularly inept in situations where a book is this hard on the reader, and those critics in the Norton Critical Edition who consider this novel almost a crime against literature have a point. If all the characters were being put on trial, instead of merely trying to live, the law would allow each of them to be tried separately because of the doctrine of mutually antagonistic defenses. There were parts of this book I enjoyed: Angel Clare sorting the cows for milking made a lovely theme. Hardy kept referring to the barnyard as a "barton," but I'm sure he wasn't directing that jibe at me, personally, because this book was written long before I was born. I've been to barnyards that were as full of "mulch" as the "barton" described in this book, and Hardy is putting things mildly. I liked the part when Alec had been reformed and Tess discovered him preaching to the Methodists without thinking that he was any better for all the things he was trying to say. Somehow Alec getting on the other side of things was still Alec, and he would have preferred to be happy than to preach all the time. For me, the plot revolved around Angel Clare's need to find a place where he could get money without shame. Alec had as much money as Tess would ever need, and he wanted to give it to her in his own way. There is an early baby problem that Tess didn't tell Alec about until they had more problems than any novelist could make disappear. D. H. Lawrence tried to understand this book in unfulfilled male and female principles, and aristocratic principles which isolated Tess and Alec d'Uberville. I'm glad this book has been appreciated so long that I finally read it. It was an involvement that went further than just feeling like a barnyard.

Haunting..........2000-10-22

I was reading this book for an assignment in English, and the images that it left in my mind will remain there for a long time. The story of Tess, a truly Pure woman, facing adversities that scare the soul out of me, is a thoughtful and saddening one.

The Norton Critical edition is particularily good, containing reviews and poems of and about Thomas Hardy, a major advantage when trying to understand the atmosphere that produced this novel.

Though the novel is heavy in description, the description is not out of place. In fact, it is essential to the storyline.

All in all, I enjoyed this book, and it made me think and reflect on the values that I believe are truly important.

The incredible strength of one woman.......2000-06-23

Thomas Hardy's novel makes a heroine out of a simple girl. Tess Durbeyfield, the daughter of a nearly extinct noble line, leads a life of heavy responsibility where her impoverished family is concerned. At the behest of her parents, she seeks assistance from the D'Urbervilles who are, supposedly, relatives. This assistance yields disastrous results and Tess feels compelled to find work as a milkmaid where she meets Angel Clare, the son of an evangelical pastor, who is gathering experience in order to become a farmer.

Hardy does a splendid job of illustrating Tess's strength as she goes from innocent girl to pure woman. Though she is not as educated as Angel, in terms of theory, her experience with Alec Stokes D'Urberville has given her a deeper knowledge of life and acceptance. Ironically, it is this experience which captivates and, predictably enough, repulses Angel.

Hardy's narrative is a powerful one in this particular tale. It is clear that this is Tess's story and we, as readers, witness her painful journey. Through his subtle and understated use of irony, we come to realize the hypocrisy of Angel and wonder about the diabolical nature of Alec.

What Hardy does emphasize in this novel is the unwavering hand of Justice which allows the novel to come to a bittersweet end and lets no one escape its strong, yet objective, sense of judgement.

This is one of the greatest Victorian novels!.......1999-05-12

Since Hardy can be rather boring in his poetry, I expected that I wouldn't even be able to finish this book. On the contrary, as soon as I had started to read it, I couln't put it down! This is a work of great depth and Hardy has an amazing way of expressing himself, one that really captures the imagination (like Dickens)! I heartily recommend this book for anyone, Victorian-lover or not. The articles are also highly illuminative; this book is definitely worth reading more than once!

Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman (Modern Library Classics)

Average customer rating:

A Darkly Compelling Tragedy
I love Tess!
Daunting but Delightful
A great book!
The novel for the realist

Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman (Modern Library Classics)
Thomas Hardy
Manufacturer: Modern Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Classics | Literature & Fiction | Book Clubs | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0375756795
Release Date: 2001-02-13

Book Description

Etched against the background of a dying rural society, Tess of the d'Urbervilles was Thomas Hardy's 'bestseller,' and Tess Durbeyfield remains his most striking and tragic heroine. Of all the characters he created, she meant the most to him. Hopelessly torn between two men—Alec d'Urberville, a wealthy, dissolute young man who seduces her in a lonely wood, and Angel Clare, her provincial, moralistic, and unforgiving husband—Tess escapes from her vise of passion through a horrible, desperate act.

'Like the greatest characters in literature, Tess lives beyond the final pages of the book as a permanent citizen of the imagination,' said Irving Howe. 'In Tess he stakes everything on his sensuous apprehension of a young woman's life, a girl who is at once a simple milkmaid and an archetype of feminine strength. . . . Tess is that rare creature in literature: goodness made interesting.'

Now Tess of the d'Urbervilles has been brought to television in a magnificent new co-production from A&E Network and London Weekend Television. Justine Waddell (Anna Karenina) stars as the tragic heroine, Tess; Oliver Milburn (Chandler & Co.) is Angel Clare; and Jason Flemyng is Alec d'Urberville. The cast also includes John McEnery (Black Beauty) as Jack Durbeyfield and Lesley Dunlop (The Elephant Man) as Joan Durbeyfield. Tess of the d'Urbervilles is directed by Ian Sharp and produced by Sarah Wilson, with a screenplay by Ted Whitehead; it was filmed in Hardy country, the beautiful English countryside in Dorset where Thomas Hardy set his novels.

From the eBook edition.

Customer Reviews:

A Darkly Compelling Tragedy.......2006-02-24

Thomas Hardy's "Tess of the D'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman" is, well, the story about Tess of the D'Urbervilles, a "simple,sensuous and passionate" peasant girl whose maturation into a woman has tremendous antipathy to its brim. The transfiguration of "a fine and handsome" country lass into a blooming woman with hapless consequences is the theme of this the most ambitious tragic Hardyan novel and the artistic flair of the late Victorian novelist blended with the subtle craftsmanship transcends the individual concern into one of the society.

The proposition involved in "Tess of the D'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman" first published in 1891 in three volumes has a tragic enough diction as we get it so clearly throughout the 550 or so odd pages of the book. It is to contract the unending horizon of the human life into a miniscule and apparently insignificant domain of an individual, who's inexperienced, unsophisticated, candid and uncanny. Tess Durbeyfield is a meek, submissive sixteen-and-a-half year old country girl with several siblings, a dissipated father and an illusioned mother living in the village of Marlott in the county of 19th. century fictitious Wessex,Hardy's eternal refuge from the real world outside. The chance discovery of John Durbeyfield from Parson Tringham, the antiquary of Stagfoot Lane, of his ancestral line of D'Urbervilles and a freak accidnt culminating in the death of one of his horses for which Tess herself shouldrs the blame sends the eponymous protagonist of this darkly compelling drama to find monetary solace in the wealthy Mrs. D'Urberville. As if the exploitation of the have nots in terms of financial issues weren't enough, the poor peasant girl from the poor "blighted" Durbeyfield family is seduced by Mrs. D'Urberville's sensual and lustful son Alec. Alec shuns her, Tess becomes pregnant, the child passes away in infancy, the unmarried mother mother starts working as a diarymaid in a farm, the Talbothays, falls in love with Angel Clare, the rector's son.....the whole flow of the tyde has a strangely familiar suspicion about itself and it's actually Thomas Hardy's exceptional gift for exploring a relatively small setting to compile a general drama of human life that transpires real tragic proportions from a fictitious figure.

Art is indeed often illusory, sometimes it's even a whisper of the urge of reformation; but in more probabilities than one, art is symbolic, a sign of much deep-seated intent. The genuine accomplishment of all forms of art---be it literature, painting,sculpture,music or much else---is to portray the vastness of the human expanse in the most trimmed space and geniuses of all ages in all spheres of art have managed to do just that. Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" and "The Starry Night" are more symbolic than cliches, Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina" is the depiction of social turmoil in 19th. century Russia, Shakespeare's "Hamlet" is a journey through a distorted and divided soul's mind and Eric Clapton's song "Tears of Heaven" is the ultimate homage to our passed away beloved ones. "Tess of the D'Urbevilles" too is a metaphor for agonies, humiliations, inward and outward strifes, twists and turns in life and the ultimatum. The unprecedented and nihilistically conspiring turn of events that Tess encounters in her hard and lonely life could've been thrown to anyone in general and any woman of any age in particular and through Tess's character as well as through the brilliant evocation of the fictional Wessex landscape and people, Hardy stags "the ache of modernism"in the novel.

This abyss of "the ache of modernism" is aptly poured into the images of the rustic realm and the ascend of the morally and spiritually corrupt. Nowhere in the book is this concept clearer than in the nature of the shrewd and machiavellian Alec D'Urberville. A sinful man come to no good by demolishing an unsuspecting girl's life, Alec is also a preacher of the Gospels in his so-called reformed stage. But all his baser passions are aroused on seeing Tess after four years and he turns into a wolf once more: "Remember, my lady, I was your master once! I will be your master again. If you are any man's wife, you are mine!" This to a Tess whose innocent flaw of revealing her horrendous past to Angel on their weddind night had caused their subsequent separation and 'the deserted wife"-'s struggle in sustaining hr livelihood. The typical male sexual desires and possessive phyche is symbolized in Angel Clare whose own sinful past is acceptable but not Tess's unconditioned misery.

Throughout the novel, the bounteous description of the landscape, the environment and Nature keeps the reader spell-bound at the author's immense imaginative power, marvellous visualisation skill and abundant choice of similes and metaphors and aptly used words. Yet the language and mood always maintain a touch of pessimism and not even spares the simple, unrestrained and self-sacrificing friendship of Marian,Retty Priddle,Izz Huett and Tess.

Hardy is barely good at analysing characters and that is vividly exposed towards the end of the novel. Angel returns from Brazil and scampers to rejoin with "a cottage-girl, his young wife" only to find her with Alec D'Urberville once again. In utter desperation of realising that she was taken in by Alec with morbid promises about her dishevelled family, Tess kills him and then elopes with Angel nly to be caught within a short span of time and be hanged. Such a sudden turnaround of events is too confusing and leaves one wondering whether more words and pages should've been devoted to such critical situations. The reader rues too the missingdescription of Tess's and Angel's marriage as much as the incomplete pictored characters' change of notions.

That the end of the novel is a befitting tribute, be it poetically just, tragic or sarcastic, to the three major characters is a Jack jumping out of the box. Alec's sin is too much for this world to bear and so he dies; Tess's life is too inundated with misery, despair, responsibility and uncertainty and so she meets with a tragic end; Angel's puritan perspective finds him a pure, genteel partner in the shape of Tess's younger sister Liza-Lu.

What adds jewels to the crown are the dramatic effects installed into the novel to make the reader approach the chain of events with a sigh and regret. What if Tess's written confession pushed under Angel's door hadn't gone under the carpet? Surely the tragic aftermath could've been bypassed. Again, had Tess not overheard her husband's brothers' critical approach to her, she would've surely met with her in-laws and her life would've turned over a new leaf. But tragedy is always concentrated on inevitability and waivering of the obvious and so it is in the case of Tess, the "little fool".

The fate of an unassuming girl "put to by an Enemy in the shape of a friend' and played from one court to another and back again like a shuttlecock isn't rare enough but what's rare is the quality of Hardy to paint a solemn picture about the essence of the issue. True, the book does often become a laboured read and provokes a deep pang of pain, anger, frustration, resentment, resentment and a rebellious intent,but the reader cannot help but fel that "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" is "a new kind of beauty, a beauty of tragic tone".

SUBHANKAR MONDAL, UG STUDENT, BANGALORE, INDIA

I love Tess!.......2005-06-16

Angel's perceptual turnabout comes a day late and a dollar short. In Hardy's Victorian world, the victim was the co-perpetrator. He had to justify to his audience that despite her technical loss of virginity, Tess was pure in essence. She was a victim of bad luck, particularly that of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. I loved when Irving Howe remarked that "Tess is...goodness made interesting." Unfortunately, Tess never got to appreciate or even recognize her goodness. She was so full of (unmerited) shame and a sense of inferiority. Angel's liberalism and code of ethics gave way to censure, and he reinforced Tess's self-doubts. He could overlook her being a milkmaid from the fallen D'Urbeville lineage, but not a victim of rape. That even a man like Angel would be influenced by the Victorian attitude (and not recognize the timeless double standard) is Hardy's sharp social critique.

Daunting but Delightful.......2002-07-10

My quirky yet brilliant English teacher assigned this work in the beginning of my senior year. Undoubtedly, I approached this book with much doubt and skepticism. If you know Hardy, you immediately recall his superfluity of detail and monotonous landscaping, which inevitably impedes character and plot development. Suprisingly, though all discouraging factors were present, I found the book exceptionally appealing. Hardy's portraiture of Tess validates him as a captivating author. He draws us into her persona, leaving us trampled and bruised with the grievances of life. He walks us through her struggles, though mangled with her inability to step forward, she still persists.
I highly reccommend this book to any avid reader of British literature.

A great book!.......2002-01-22

This is truly one of Hardy's best books! The story is of a young girl (Tess) who's father finds out that he comes from the old great family of the D'Urbervilles. So the family sends Tess to one of their relations to ask for money but also Tess' mother knows that at the house where she is going to be staying there is a man named Alec and she hopes that Tess and he will marry. Alec is tempted by Tess and seduces her after she has been working at his house for a while. Tess has the baby which soon dies. Tess goes to a dairy farm where she meets Angel, a higher class well edgucated young man. These two fall in love and marry. On their wedding night he confesses to her a bad part of his past and she tells him about her child. Angel can not forgive her and leaves. I will stop here beacause I do not want to ruin the book for you, but I will say this it has a whollop of a finish and you will be surprised!

The novel for the realist.......2001-10-30

A true joy to read, Tess of the D'Urbervilles is filled with situations that paint pictures of real life. Hardy knew that Tess' reality was filled with enough emotion and drama that there was no reason to add to it the things fairy tales are made of.

When reading Tess of the D'Urbervilles you are brought into the story by Hardy's suberb way of sketching the scene. Though Hardy's descriptive writing can sometimes be hard to digest, his choice of words allow you to enter the landscape and smell the glen yourself.

Book Description

A ne'er-do-well exploits his gentle daughter's beauty for social advancement in this masterpiece of tragic fiction. Hardy's 1891 novel defied convention to focus on the rural lower class for a frank treatment of sexuality and religion. Then and now, his sympathetic portrait of a victim of Victorian hypocrisy offers compelling reading.

Customer Reviews:

Lush landscapes and thought patterns.......2007-08-03

Incredible Literary Work.......2007-03-30

Tess of the d'Urbervilles is an outstanding piece of literature. It follows the struggles of its protagonist through life in the 1900s. Anyone who is interested in literature to the slightest degree must read this novel. It is captivating, spellbinding, and heartwrenching. Rarely do I cry while reading a novel, but I was weeping throughout this book. The incredible journey Tess goes on is unmatched by any other piece of literature to date.

What a bunch of simpering simpletons.......2006-11-11

I enjoy reading classics, and have read several. No more than anyone else, perhaps, but a decent few that i could get my hands on.I've never read Hardy, and though his style was different, it was not hard to follow. The flaws in his characters are realistic enough, but it is those flaws that made me dislike the book. Tess is a simpering simpleton who should be smarter than she is. Angel is a Devil, who is the most hypocritical, bigoted, delusional idiot that walked in the book. The evil man, Alec D'Urberville, was terrible, but his evils could be comparable to Angel's. And in the middle is the lost child Tess, who can't be counted on to have a milliliter of sense or perception concering people throughout the entire book. She worships Angel, and blames herself for her rape, because Angel blames her despite his insisting that he doesn't.The plot could have been better, the characters could have been likable, and for God's sake it could have been less repetitive. Yes, we all understand, Tess you love him, Tess you need him, Tess you live for him, whatever, we understand, stop obsessing. Well written, but only worth reading at most once. I would borrow it instead of buying it.

Great introduction to Thomas Hardy.......2005-07-07

I picked up the audiobook (unabridged of course) at the library and gave it a listen. I couldn't put it down! (In a manner of speaking.) His characters are three dimensional and flawed in a way that makes you believe in them all the more for it. His descriptions of social mores and customs, as well as class structure, and pastoral England are well worth the read. There are some classical writers whose work I slog through, and some whose work I parcel out slowly so my enjoyment lasts longer. Hardy would be in the latter of the two groups. If you enjoy Thomas Hardy, I would recommend Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe.

Bit of a Letdown in the End.......2004-04-16

This is part of my attempt to read classics and non-fiction as well as my usual speculative fiction this year. A few people noted that Hardy is a bit of a hard read, and that turned out to be true. His style is jagged and choppy, bouncing around quite a bit, and never giving you a true glimpse of some scenes important to know how to interpret (such as the question of Tess' seduction or rape by Alec d'Urberville). However, overall, it is an interesting story at least and I enjoyed the book. But considering the ending seemed to be rather ill-fitting to the rest of the tale, I'll have to pass on giving it a high rating. It was rather disappointing to slog through his odd phrasings and quirks, only to be let down at the end by the characters just magically changing personality traits. I think Tess was a weakling without a mind of her own for the most part, Angel was worthless, and the character with the most potential in the story is the so-called villain, Alec d'Urberville.

Tess la de los D'Urberville/ Tess of the D'Urbervilles (2013)

Average customer rating:

Tess la de los D'Urberville/ Tess of the D'Urbervilles (2013)
Thomas Hardy
Manufacturer: Alianza Editorial Sa
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

British | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Romantic Suspense | Romance | Subjects | Books

Suspenso Romántico | Romance | Libros en español | Formats | Books

Look Inside Romance Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 8420666319

Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Collector's Library)

Average customer rating:

Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Collector's Library)
Thomas Hardy
Manufacturer: Collector's Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1904633102

Feminist Readings: An Introduction to Feminist Literature (2nd Edition)

Average customer rating:

Feminist Readings: An Introduction to Feminist Literature (2nd Edition)
Sara Mills , and Lynne Pearce
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall PTR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Textbook Binding

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Feminist Theory | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0133753956

Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Signet Classics)

Average customer rating:

Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Signet Classics)
Thomas Hardy
Manufacturer: Signet Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0451530276

Book Description

One of literature's greatest and most tragic heroines.

A beautiful and hearty farm girl, Tess Durbeyfield is about to have her life tragically changed by forces outside her control: lust, poverty, and hypocrisy. This controversial Victorian tale has come to be recognized as a triumph of literary art.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books