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Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1891)

by Thomas Hardy

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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18,601241244 (3.81)664
Classic Literature. Fiction. HTML:

Tess of the d'Urbervilles is a harrowing critique of social class and the powerlessness of women. Tess, a beautiful young woman, is pushed on her rich "relatives" by her grasping father. When the young Lord does with her as he likes, Tess's whole life falls into ruins from which she attempts to free herself. The novel met with mixed reviews upon publication, because it challenged the precepts of society. It is now considered a classic of English literature.

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  1. 90
    Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy (alaudacorax)
    alaudacorax: At the moment, I think this is the finest of Hardy's novels - if you've read and liked any of the others I'm sure you'll like this. If you've been turned-off by the grimness of some of his others - Tess ..., for instance - you might well find this more palatable.… (more)
  2. 82
    Middlemarch (1/2) by George Eliot (readerbabe1984)
  3. 40
    Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe (roby72)
  4. 40
    The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton (Lapsus_Linguae)
    Lapsus_Linguae: Both novels depict an attractive young woman who becomes an outcast because of society's sexual mores.
  5. 41
    Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (roby72)
  6. 30
    Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy (Booksloth)
  7. 41
    Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (Johanna11)
    Johanna11: Both books write about people with expectations for their future, both are very well written at the end of the nineteenth century.
  8. 20
    The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James (roby72)
  9. 10
    Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (tmrps)
  10. 11
    Adam Bede by George Eliot (Heather39)
    Heather39: Both books tell the story of a young, working class woman who enters into a relationship with a gentleman, eventually to her downfall.
  11. 12
    The Quarry Wood by Nan Shepherd (edwinbcn)
    edwinbcn: Written by a woman, "The Quarry Wood" explores the awakening sexuality and awareness of the young Martha. More outspoken than Thomas Hardy, but not yet as free as D.H. Lawrence.
  12. 12
    Villette by Charlotte Brontë (allenmichie)
  13. 24
    Muriel's Wedding [1994 film] by P. J. Hogan (lucyknows)
    lucyknows: Muriel's Wedding could be paired with Tess of the D'Urbervilles as well as several other novels, such as, My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and even with Shakespeare's play Much Ado About Nothing
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English (230)  French (4)  Italian (2)  Spanish (1)  Catalan (1)  Bulgarian (1)  German (1)  Dutch (1)  All languages (241)
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Showing 1-5 of 230 (next | show all)
5

Tess of the D'Urbervilles is quite possibly one of the most depressing books I've ever read... I don't know what this says about me... but I absolutely loved it. Hardy's descriptions of nature, love, and melancholy are truly stunning.

I won't lie, I had no idea what this book was about and went into it completely blind; and I think that it's better that you do too. I was heartbroken over all of Tess' numerous tragedies and absolutely dumbfounded with the plot twist that unfolded in the last twenty or so pages. ( )
  cbwalsh | Sep 13, 2023 |
Just so so so so good. I first read this probably 40 years ago and, honestly, didn't remember one single thing about it other than that I had liked it. Well, it held up very well. It totally took me away to a place in time that, thankfully, I will never experience. I loved Tess so much that I became physically stressed and anxious for her. Life chewed her up and spit her out, but she just kept trying to make the best of it. Angel and Alec were crap and neither were worthy of her. It was all so infuriating at times. But it was worth it. I went to another world and ended up caring deeply about this woman, forgetting about my petty little worries and problems for a time. It's been a while since I've felt that profound a sense of escape from life. Romantic, tragic, beautiful. ( )
  AliceAnna | Aug 12, 2023 |
Review of the audiobook edition. For comments on the Hardy novel, see my review of the print edition.

Simon Vance does another excellent narration in this Victorian classic. His voices for the lower class rural people deserve a special mention as I often struggle with the written form of this sort of dialect -- I don't know the original dialect so I can't comment on how accurate it is but it sounded accurate but still was understandable. ( )
  leslie.98 | Jun 27, 2023 |
emotional damage. ( )
  sunflowered13 | Jan 22, 2023 |
Hardy is, without a doubt, an excellent writer but this book alternately bored and frustrated me. ( )
  serru | Oct 6, 2022 |
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Showing 1-5 of 230 (next | show all)
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▾Published reviews
Daring in its treatment of conventional ideas, pathetic in its sadness, and profoundly stirring by its tragic power. The very title, "Tess of the D'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman", is a challenge to convention.
added by Shortride | editThe Times
 
▾Other authors

» Add other authors (113 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Hardy, Thomas—primary authorall editionsconfirmed
Alvarez, A.Introductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Bentinck, AnnaNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Cosham, RalphNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Dolin, TimEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Firth, PeterNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Galef, DavidIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Gribble, VivienIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Higonnet, Margaret R.Introductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Hill, JamesCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Horton, TimEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Irwin, MichaelIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Joshua, ShirleyEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Porter, DavinaNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Reddick, PeterIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Sandys, ElspethIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Skilton, DavidEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Stubbs, ImogenNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Thorne, StephenNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Canonical title
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
Original title
Tess of the D'Urbervilles. A pure woman
Alternative titles
Original publication date
1891
People/Characters
Tess Durbeyfield
Alec d'Urberville
Angel Clare
Important places
Wessex, England, UK (fictional)
England, UK
Important events
Related movies
Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1998 | IMDb)
Tess of the D'Urbervilles (2008 | IMDb)
Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1913 | IMDb)
Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1924 | IMDb)
Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1952 | IMDb)
Awards and honors
BBC's Big Read (Best loved novel, 2003, No 26)
Guardian 1000 (Love)
1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (2006/2008/2010/2012 Edition)
The Telegraph's 110 Best Books: The Perfect Library (2008)
Daniel S. Burt's Novel 100 (34)
Epigraph
'...Poor wounded name! My bosom as a bed
Shall lodge thee.',
—W. Shakespeare [Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act 1, Scene 2, 111/12] & should read:
'Poor wounded name: My bosom as a bed
Shall lodge thee...',
[Riverside Shakespeare (1997)].
Dedication
First words
On an evening in the latter part of May a middle-aged man was walking homeward from Shaston to the village of Marlott, in the adjoining Vale of Blakemore or Blackmoor.
Quotations
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original language
English
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC
▾References

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (5)

▾Book descriptions
Classic Literature. Fiction. HTML:

Tess of the d'Urbervilles is a harrowing critique of social class and the powerlessness of women. Tess, a beautiful young woman, is pushed on her rich "relatives" by her grasping father. When the young Lord does with her as he likes, Tess's whole life falls into ruins from which she attempts to free herself. The novel met with mixed reviews upon publication, because it challenged the precepts of society. It is now considered a classic of English literature.

.
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Book description
In order to step out of family poverty, Tess attempts to find her ancient relations, the d'Urbervilles. Unfortunately, she is taken advantage of by a man which causes her even more strife throughout the rest of her life. She is forced into a moral delimma when she truly falls in love with another man due to her previous circumstances. More conflicted than ever, Tess is able to eventually become a strong woman who makes choices for herself instead of what the society tells her is right. This book was some what a hard book for me to get through because some parts of it seem very dry, but overall the story line is interesting.
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WorldCat

Genres

Melvil Decimal System (DDC)

823.8Literature › English & Old English literatures › English fiction › Victorian period 1837-1900

LC Classification

PR4748.A2Language and Literature › English › English Literature › 19th century , 1770/1800-1890/1900

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Penguin Australia

3 editions of this book were published by Penguin Australia.

Editions: 0141439599, 0141028904, 0141199946

Urban Romantics

2 editions of this book were published by Urban Romantics.

Editions: 1907832661, 190783267X

Tantor Media

An edition of this book was published by Tantor Media.

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West Margin Press

An edition of this book was published by West Margin Press.

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Recorded Books

An edition of this book was published by Recorded Books.

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