Tess of the d'Urbervilles

Author: Hardy
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-11-01
Features: Tess of the d'Urbervilles is undoubtedly one of Hardy's most representative works. Tess, a beautiful rural girl and the eldest daughter in her family, discovers one day that her father is the descendant of an ancient noble family, the d'Urbervilles. At that time, Tess's family is already impoverished, and their only valuable horse has died in an accident. To solve the family's financial crisis, Tess's mother convinces her daughter to marry into the wealthy d'Urbervilles. In reality, the d'Urbervilles are a genuine bourgeois family that has risen to the aristocracy through money. Young master Alec d'Urberville is a typical wastrel. After marrying into the d'Urbervilles, Tess becomes a laborer on the farm. Despite her efforts to maintain her dignity, the pure Tess is seduced by Alec. She returns home in disgrace and gives birth to a child, who dies in infancy. Tess is then deemed a guilty and unchaste woman.