Tess of the d'Urbervilles (1891)

This story is so tragically beautiful- about the strength and limits of love. One of my all-time favorites. So much happens to innocent Tess, yet she never loses her strength or resolve to carry on. ( )

This classic is hitting many uncomfortable issues which most are still taboo in this time and age. Such as how Tess is taken advantage of and then blamed by her perpetrator for being beautiful and simply "leaving him helpless to keep himself back". Because she is not a "pure lady" as the love of her life assumed she was, she is isolated and punished to deal with life's challenges. What I like is, despite the betrayal from her loved ones or the ones that claim to love her, she finds her unstoppable strength and loud voice towards the end of the book.

The book is full of symbolism and self-destroying characters who can't change their weaknesses: Tess's parents with their pursuit of money and royalty and Alec's obsession and sexual desire towards Tess....

Writer's description of the Wessex country is perfect. You- as a reader - are in that climate and climate changes and evolves with the characters.

Considering the time this novel is written, it is groundbreaking and surely received a harsh criticism and censorship. Today though, we can appreciate Hardy's genius pen and courage. ( )

Young dairymaid Tess Durbeyfield goes to work for a supposed cousin when her father learns that their family roots go back to the noble D’Urberville family. The degenerate son of the upstart modern D’Urbervilles rapes her. Some time later, she finds both work and love elsewhere, but can she truly move on from her past trauma?

I knew from the start that this was going to be a downer, and yes, it turned out to be just as depressing as expected. I kept hoping for a happy ending for Tess, and it so nearly could have been. I got pretty irritated at Angel Clare, let me tell you. I can see how this work gained its classic status; the writing is lovely in spots (strewn with classical allusions that I didn’t always take the time to grasp, though) and the plot fairly compelling. Not one I’ll read again, but I’m glad I finally got around to it. ( )

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. ( )

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 ( )