Book Cover of Tess of the d'Urbervilles

Tess of the d'Urbervilles

by Thomas Hardy

Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy is the quintessential cliff hanger. Incidentally, Hardy is the author with whom this term actually originated. In one of his books, A Pair of Blue Eyes, he had his hero literally hanging from a cliff face, giving rise to the term in Victorian literature. Many great works of literature in this period were serialized in magazines of the day and depended on such devices to keep the reader interested and engaged enough to read the next instalment! Nevertheless, Hardy's compassion, love of nature, his romantic idealism and wonderful style make Tess of the d'Urbervilles a great read for all ages. The story of a woman doomed by circumstances to humiliation, poverty and despair, but attempts to emerge from these by sheer dint of will does indeed make compelling reading. The concept of universal justice which does not take individual situations into account is another major theme in this book. For Tess, the heroine, who is constantly judged and condemned by society, though she is completely innocent, justice is a blind and cruel fate. Tess of the d'Urbervilles presents a very interesting picture of Victorian England at the time of great social and economic change. Tess's father's ill-conceived and foolish delusion that his family is descended from nobility leads him to push his daughter into disaster. Hardy also presents several moral dilemmas in the book—the conventional ideas of love, marriage, family and security are explored and found wanting as more modern ideas begin to emerge in the new age of industrialism. The contrast between the “pure” and unspoiled countryside and the “wicked” and tainted cities is constantly presented. Heavily censored and censured when it was first published in 1891, modern day readers of today will find much that is relevant, apart from its being a good, satisfying read in the best traditions of storytelling.

Book Details

Language

English

Original Language

English

Published In

1891

Authors

Thomas Hardy image

Hardy wrote poetry throughout his life and regarded himself primarily as a poet, his first collection was not published until 1898. Initially, he gained fame as the author of novels such as Far from t...

Books by Thomas Hardy

Listen/Download Audiobook

Read by:
00:00
Playback Speed 1.0
00:00
  • Select Speed

Related books

Alcestis Cover image

Alcestis by Euripides

Alcestis or Alceste, was a princess in Greek mythology, known for her love of her husband. Her life story was told by pseudo-Apollodorus in his Biblio...

A Tale of a Tub Cover image

A Tale of a Tub by Jonathan Swift

A Tale of a Tub. Written for the Universal Improvement of Mankind. was the first major work written by Jonathan Swift, arguably his most difficult sat...

Agamemnon (Browning Translation) Cover image

Agamemnon (Browning Translation) by Aeschylus

Agamemnon, by Aeschylus, is a powerful and tragic play that explores themes of revenge, betrayal, and the consequences of hubris. It is the first part...

Agamemnon Cover image

Agamemnon by Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Agamemnon is a verse tragedy by Seneca the Younger that reimagines the Greek myth of the House of Atreus. The play focuses on the aftermath of the Tro...

Bucking the Tiger Cover image

Bucking the Tiger by Achmed Abdullah

In the smoky underworld of 1920s New York City, where fortunes are won and lost with the turn of a card, "Bucking the Tiger" by Achmed Abdullah transp...

Oedipus Rex Cover image

Oedipus Rex by Sophocles

Oedipus Rex, also known by its Greek title, Oedipus Tyrannus or Oedipus the King, is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles that was first performed around...

Ellendigen - Deel 3 - Marius Cover image

Ellendigen - Deel 3 - Marius by Victor Hugo

Dit deel van 'Les Misérables' focust op Marius, een jonge rechtenstudent die verstrikt raakt in de turbulente gebeurtenissen van het Parijs van 1832....

Little Miss Joy-Sing Cover image

Little Miss Joy-Sing by John Luther Long

In the enchanting world of ancient China, where music holds the power to transcend boundaries, lies the captivating tale of Little Miss Joy-Sing by ac...

Nibelungos Cover image

Nibelungos by Anonymous

El Cantar de los Nibelungos es un poema épico medieval alemán que narra la historia de Sigfrido, un héroe legendario que mata al dragón Fafnir y gana...

コーカサスの禿鷹 (Caucasus no Hagetaka) Cover image

コーカサスの禿鷹 (Caucasus no Hagetaka) by Yoshio Toyoshima

The story narrates the journey of a determined vulture who sets out to discover the tallest mountain in the Caucasus region. Driven by an unwavering a...

Reviews for Tess of the d'Urbervilles

No reviews posted or approved, yet...