Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1891)

by Thomas Hardy

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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70
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)
61
Middlemarch (1/2) by George Eliot (readerbabe1984)
41
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (roby72)
30
Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy (Booksloth)
30
Moll Flanders: The Fortunes and Misfortunes by Daniel Defoe (roby72)
10
The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James (roby72)
21
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.
11
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.
01
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.
13
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
02
Villette by Charlotte Brontë (allenmichie)

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English (191) French (4) Italian (2) Dutch (1) Bulgarian (1) German (1) All languages (200)

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Showing 1-5 of 191 (next | show all)

Hardy's sense of place -
"...surprised and delighted to behold, extended like a map beneath him, a country differing absolutely from that which he had passed through" -
and development of characters excel, but the plot and the recriminatings of Tess simply drag on for too long.

Deciding to tell Angel about her deceit after their marriage felt false and deciding to murder Alec after she willingly joined him
was untrue to her character. (

)

m.belljackson | Sep 1, 2018 |

I feel no need to rehash the plot of Tess or sing the praises of Hardy, although I easily could. I had forgotten how bleak [b:Tess of the D'Urbervilles|32261|Tess of the D'Urbervilles|Thomas Hardy|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358921541s/32261.jpg|3331021] was and how trapped Tess herself is by the unfair standards women are held to in this society ruled by men. That Hardy was brave enough to tackle this subject is courage in itself.

I do not love Tess in the same way that I loved [b:Jude the Obscure|50798|Jude the Obscure|Thomas Hardy|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1389403264s/50798.jpg|41342119] or [b:The Mayor of Casterbridge|56759|The Mayor of Casterbridge|Thomas Hardy|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388276915s/56759.jpg|2390173], which is the only reason she doesn't get five-stars from me. If you have never read this book, be prepared to feel an overwhelming sense of injustice. (

)

phantomswife | Jul 6, 2018 |

Old language makes this hard to enjoy . Trying to appreciate English composition . Parent's pimp out daughter for money based on a claim of nobility . Moving words (

)

jenniebooks | Jun 19, 2018 |

Depressing and morose.
The story has potential but the main character needs some backbone. (

)

Lauren2013 | May 24, 2018 |

With all the hype surrounding “Tess”, I had high hopes, though sadly my hopes weren’t realised.

Somehow, it failed to hit the mark. I enjoyed parts rather than the novel as a whole. I prefer some of Hardy’s lesser-known tomes to this one.

Can’t remember any specifics, unfortunately, as I’m reviewing this nearly six years after reading it, but as it’s Thomas Hardy, I’d like to give it a second read some time. (

)

PhilSyphe | May 12, 2018 |

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Showing 1-5 of 191 (next | show all)

▾Published reviews

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thingScore 100

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 (116 possible)

Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Thomas Hardy	—	primary author	all editions	calculated
Alvarez, A.	Introduction	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Cosham, Ralph	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Dolin, Tim	Editor	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Firth, Peter	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Galef, David	Introduction	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Higonnet, Margaret R.	Introduction	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Hill, James	Cover artist	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Horton, Tim	Editor	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Irwin, Michael	Introduction	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Joshua, Shirley	Editor	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Porter, Davina	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Skilton, David	Editor	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Stubbs, Imogen	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Thorne, Stephen	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

▾Work-to-work relationships

Is contained in

Tess of the D'Ubervilles / Under the Greenwood Tree / The Well-Beloved by Thomas Hardy

Far from the madding crowd / The Mayor of Casterbridge / Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

Romanzi by Thomas Hardy

Far from the Madding Crowd / The Mayor of Casterbridge / Tess of the d'Urbervilles / Wessex Tales / The Woodlanders (Omnibus) by Thomas Hardy

Tess of the D'Urbervilles [Case Studies in Contemporary Criticism] by Thomas Hardy

Far From the Madding Crowd / Jude the Obscure / The Mayor of Casterbridge / The Return of the Native / Tess of the d'Urbervilles (Five Novels) by Thomas Hardy

(show 1 more)

I grandi romanzi inglesi: Nuove traduzioni by Jane Austen

Contains

Tess of the D'Urbervilles: Vol I by Thomas Hardy

Tess of the D'Urbervilles: Vol II by Thomas Hardy

Is retold in

Tess of the D'Urbervilles [adapted - Oxford Bookworms] by Clare West

Has the adaptation

Tess [1979 film] by Roman Polanski

Tess of the d'Urbervilles [1998 TV movie] by Ian Sharp

Tess of the d'Urbervilles [2008 TV mini series] by David Blair

Has as a study

Thomas Hardy: 'Tess of the D'Urbevilles'. Literature insights by Cedric Watts

Has as a student's study guide

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▾Common Knowledge

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Series (with order)

Canonical title

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

Original title

Tess of the D'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented

Alternative titles

Original publication date

People/Characters

Important places

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)

(show all 6 items)

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)

(show all 18 items)

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

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Original language

English

Canonical DDC/MDS

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▾LibraryThing members' description

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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▾Book descriptions

Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0141439599, Paperback)

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.

(retrieved from Amazon Thu, 12 Mar 2015 18:16:21 -0400)

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▾Library descriptions

"When Tess Durbeyfield is driven by family poverty to claim kinship with the wealthy D'Urbervilles and seek a portion of their family fortune, meeting her 'cousin' Alec proves to be her downfall. A very different man, Angel Clare, seems to offer her love and salvation, but Tess must choose whether to reveal her past or remain silent in the hope of a peaceful future. With its sensitive depiction of the wronged Tess and powerful criticism of social convention, Tess of the D'Urbervilles is one of the most moving and poetic of Hardy's novels. Based on the three-volume first edition that shocked readers when first published in 1891, this edition includes as appendices: Hardy's Prefaces, the Landscapes of Tess, episodes originally censored from the Graphic periodical version and a selection of the Graphic illustrations."--Back cover.… (more)

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