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Author: Thomas Hardy
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-02-01
Features: Easy Read Classics Series. To promote English learning among Chinese middle school students, cultivate their cultural literacy and literary appreciation, Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press (SFLP), after extensive deliberation and market research, decided to introduce a series of abridged literary classics from Macmillan Publishing Company to Chinese middle school students. SFLP carefully selected 40 books from Macmillan's abridged literary classics series, forming the "Easy Read Classics Series," with difficulty levels spanning from Level 3 to Level 8 of the "English Curriculum Standards." This series includes classic works by literary masters from the UK, the US, France, and other countries, featuring the works of renowned authors such as Shakespeare, Dickens, Mark Twain, Hardy, and Alexandre Dumas. To help middle school students better grasp the essence of the original works and the creative journeys of the authors, SFLP has specially annotated the language difficulties in the texts and included background introductions about the authors and their works. We sincerely hope that the "Easy Read Classics Series" will help improve the literary appreciation skills of Chinese middle school students, cultivate their moral character, enhance their English reading abilities, and serve as the key to opening the door to reading English literary classics.
The setting of the story is the moorland of Eddington, and the residents who adhere to traditional customs and traditions on the moor are a microcosm of the entire human living environment. The relationship between the male and female protagonists and the moor reflects the intense conflict between "modern" youth of Hardy's time and their environment.·, a young and talented man, returns to the moor from Paris, full of benevolent intentions inspired by French utopian socialism, voluntarily abandoning the distractions and indulgences of the world to create a small venture for the betterment of his homeland and enlightenment of its people. However, he first faces opposition from his closest mother and newly married wife. Due to the twists of fate, he also suffers from sudden eye disease, further exacerbating his failure.
The conflict of the female protagonist, Tess, with the environment is in the opposite direction of Young. Young was born on the moor—moved to the world—returned to the moor; Tess was born in the world—estranged to the moor—desired to escape the moor. Though both are dissatisfied with their current circumstances and possess a "modern" awareness that transcends the traditional customs and thoughts of the moor people, they remain incompatible with each other. This young couple, mostly attracted to each other's appearances, along with misunderstandings in their early stages of acquaintance, marries impulsively under the influence of temporary emotions. Their conflicts after marriage become even more intense. Again, fate plays a trick—their conflict not only fails to be properly resolved or diminished but instead escalates, ultimately leading to tragedy.