Upon taking this book from the bookshelf the other day, I wasn't quite sure why I was drawn into reading a book read many times in the past, and one which I kept for a rainy day. The rainy day had arrived, and little by little, I delved into the life of Tess, our heroine, and began to recall why this book stands out as such a worthy contender for books that portray life in old England. Thomas Hardy's use of description is amazing. Not only is the reader almost on intimate terms with characters, but the scenery that he describes passes the test of time, in language that really does it justice and does not seem to have dated, considering that it was written as ...  Read the complete review

It's really, extremely difficult to describe the plot of this book without giving any spoilers, as a lot of dramatic events happen very early on in the novel. So I will just say that it follows the story of Tess, a young working class girl, who is sent to visit distant, rich relatives in the hope that she will be able to get a better job or even make a good match whilst there. This visit changes her life immeasurably, and the story follows Tess as she tries to put her past behind her. She is, for me, the ultimate tragic heroine, and although she always tries to do the right thing, other forces in her life (men and society, mainly) often stand in her way. The ...  Read the complete review

Tess of the D'Urbervilles Plot: "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" is a classic Victorian tragedy about the life of an impoverished and virtuous Wessex country girl who becomes a victim of her society and the forces of fate. Her destiny will be both in the hands of the changeable morality of her fellow humans and the consistent forces of nature. When the rural peasant John Durbeyfield is given delusions of grandeur by a well-meaning amateur genealogist a series of events are set in motion that will spell disaster for John's eldest Daughter. Through a misplaced a sense of guilt Tess seeks kinship with a noble family who use the ...  Read the complete review

This novel caused a heck of a fuss when Thomas Hardy first published it. Originally titled "A Pure Woman" it was considered outrageous for a woman such as Tess to be seen as pure in Hardy's eyes. I'm giving a fairly lengthy plot description here, so apologies if you get bored, and the ending is given away, so watch out! Tess Durbeyfield is the peasant daughter of haggler John. She is partaking in a local dance with other girls when three young brothers wander along- Angel, Felix and Cuthbert (poor bugger) Clare. Angel wants to join in the dance, but his older brothers are basically a bit snobby about dancing with country girls, so Angel dances ...  Read the complete review

Tess of the D'urbervilles is an extremely great novel, especially for the time it was written during the Victorian Period, but is still relevant to us today, with some of the key themes which are dealt with. First of all, the novel centres on a young girl called Tess Durbeyfield, who finds out she is of a greater lineage, the descendant in the line of the D'urbervilles. As she goes on a voyage to discover her lineage, she meets Alec D'urbervilles, who bought his title. An event between them in the chase kickstart the rollercoaster ride of tragedy and misfortune for Tess. Even as she attempts to escape him, she is constantly being reminded of him, ...  Read the complete review