This sourcebook offers an introduction to Thomas Hardy's crucial novel, offering: a contextual overview, a chronology and reprinted contemporary documents, including a selection of Hardy's poems an overview of the book's early reception and recent critical fortunes, as well as a wide range of reprinted extracts from critical works key passages from the novel, reprinted with editorial comment and cross-referenced within the volume to contextual and critical documents suggestions for further reading and a list of relevant web resources. For students on a wide range of courses, this sourcebook offers the essential stepping-stone from a basic reading knowledge to an advanced understanding of Hardy's best-known novel.

The novel is set in impoverished rural England, Thomas Hardy's fictional Wessex, during the Long Depression of the 1870s. Tess is the oldest child of John and Joan Durbeyfield, uneducated peasants. ... He notices Tess too late to dance with her, as he is already late for his promised return to his brothers.

When the impoverished Durbeyfield family learn that they may be descendants of the royal d’Urberville family, they are delighted at the thought of owning a potential fortune and ask their daughter, young Tess, to go and stake their claim. She initially refuses, but is forced to go when she accidentally kills their horse and cripples their livelihood. But her meeting with Alec d’Urberville goes horribly wrong, and she returns home in shame. Tess later falls in love with the kind Angel Clare but is forced to make a difficult decision: to tell him the truth of her past and face the consequences, or to remain silent. The book was controversial when first published and deemed “socially unacceptable” by some as Hardy’s uniquely feminist portrayal of Tess challenged the sexual morals of the time.

A Study Guide for Thomas Hardy's "Tess of the D'Urbervilles," excerpted from Gale's acclaimed Novels for Students.This concise study guide includes plot summary; character analysis; author biography; study questions; historical context; suggestions for further reading; and much more. For any literature project, trust Novels for Students for all of your research needs.

A pan-Caribbean anthology of original short stories culled from the winner and finalists of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize.

Tess Durbeyfield is a young and innocent country girl whose life takes a tumultuous turn when she discovers her noble lineage. Seduced and betrayed by the wealthy Alec d'Urberville, Tess's life is marked by hardship, tragedy, and unfulfilled dreams. As Tess grapples with the consequences of her past and struggles to find redemption, she faces the harsh realities of a society that judges her for her perceived sins and tarnished reputation. Through Tess's journey, Hardy explores themes of class, gender, and the cruelty of fate, painting a vivid and poignant portrait of a woman's struggle for agency and dignity in a world determined to oppress her. Tess of the D’Ubervilles was criticized for challenging sexual morals when it was first published in 1891, but has since then gone on to become an enduring classic and one of the major novels of the 19th century. THOMAS HARDY [1840-1928] was an English poet and author. His work is characterized by realism and criticism of the strict Victorian ideals which he believed limited people's lives and happiness. He achieved great success with the novel Under the Greenwood Tree [1872] and continued with successes such as Far from the Madding Crowd and Tess of the d’Urbervilles.