Tess of the D'Urbervilles

Set in the late 19th century, "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" follows the journey of Tess, a poor farmer's daughter who is sent to work for a wealthy family to support her family. A beautiful and virtuous young woman, she catches the eye of Alec, the son of her employer. After a series of unfortunate events, Tess finds herself ostracized by society, her dreams shattered, and her reputation tarnished. Though she is a victim of circumstance, Tess is deemed guilty by the people around her and forced to confront the harsh reality of her situation. Thomas Hardy's poignant novel delves into themes of gender inequality, social class, morality, and fate, all through the story of one exceptional young woman.

innocence ꞏ romance ꞏ misogyny ꞏ gender roles ꞏ education ꞏ tragedy ꞏ society ꞏ passion ꞏ feminism ꞏ guilt ꞏ seduction ꞏ misfortune ꞏ social commentary ꞏ love story ꞏ thomas hardy ꞏ morality ꞏ 19th century ꞏ novel ꞏ classic literature ꞏ nature ꞏ victorian literature ꞏ england