Thomas Hardy - Tess of the d'Urbervilles

by Geoffrey Harvey

An instant best-seller, Tess of the d'Urbervilles has become a cultural icon. It also engendered fierce controversy when Hardy famously defended Tess as a 'pure woman' in the first volume edition. Current arguments about Hardy's relationship with his heroine and her rural world have ensured that this text remains a centre of ideological debate. In this rich and complex novel, Hardy's daring treatment of the fallen woman issue reaches a profound depth of tragic intensity. And he sets his powerful critique of Victorian society in a 'Wessex' landscape that is incomparably evoked.

In this Readers' Guide, Geoffrey Harvey selects extracts from the most significant, and often brilliant, essays among the huge body of critical writing that Tess of the d'Urbervilles has attracted. He focuses on important textual issues unique to this novel, and contextualises areas of recurrent debate. Beginning with the sharply conflicting responses of contemporary reviewers in the 1890s, this Guide traces the evolution of Tess criticism up to the most recent work of the 1990s, encompassing the major developments in literary theory - among them humanist formalism, New Criticism, psychoanalysis, deconstruction, political criticism and feminist theory. This Guide is designed to afford essential support for the study of one of Hardy's finest and most challenging novels.

Genres: Classics, Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2002

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Am rereading Thomas Hardy again after decades. Amazing imagery and symbolism....terrifically insightful of the forces at work at the time. Heartbreaking in the sexual double standard of the times, consigning the beautiful and sensitive Tess to a life of physical poverty and emotional deprivation after being raped, misunderstood, and abandoned. Given the current political discourse around women's reproductive rights, the story of Tess is not such a distant glance over our shoulders....pay no attention to the fact that the editor is listed as the author! Goodreads has a few flaws.

[Russell Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been, for many years, a huge fan of the novels of Thomas Hardy. Recently, I decided to re-read Tess of the d’Urbervilles, only to find that I apparently never had read it before now. I recognized none of the plot. What I did recognize was the beautiful prose of Thomas Hardy. His writing is extremely beautiful, filled with rich descriptions and allusions. Yes, the writing style of his era is quite prevalent: some sentences go on forever with many, many words. That can be somewhat off-putting for a reader of modern novels, but reading those long sentences only leads us to enjoy the characters and their actions. As I read Tess, I was struck by all the allusions to the Bible and literature. Hardy apparently was a very well-educated man. While I felt enriched by these allusions, it struck me that we don’t see a lot of that in contemporary literature (i.e. novels that would be popular with the masses, as were Hardy’s.) Then I realized that today’s writers often will offer allusions tied to pop culture and that religion, Shakespeare, and poetry were part of the pop culture of Hardy’s time. I was pleased to make that connection, and I felt that realization helped to speed me through the reading. But mostly, I was compelled by the character of Tess, an innocent, who gamely tries to live her life while being torn by outside influences, namely her father, her love Angel Clare, and her nemesis Alec d’Urberville. The plot turn that leads to the end of the novel was one I was not expecting at all. It was a fitting ending, but still, I was surprised by it. Many would think the novels of Thomas Hardy should be left to literature classes, but my feeling is that he is as relevant today as he was in his own time, and as he was a popular novelist then, he should be one now for the modern audience.

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

To me, this book did not wear well with age. The characters were pretty much infuriating or completely incredible. It abounds with bad choices and adolescent behavior. The character Alec, who
eschews his religious fervor after a glimpse of the "comely" Tess, was completely implausible. The language was not inspiring, and Hardy's tendency to preach was not fun. Even trying to account for the prejudices and values of the time, this book only succeeded in making me exasperated.

[Ranette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young woman tries to make a life for herself and faces many difficulties.

[Audra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I didn't read the edition pictured here; my edition was a very old copy my husband found at an antiques dealer, with notes by T. Hardy himself.

The story is excellent, and Hardy accomplished his mission of inspiring outrage at the inconsistency of expectations and penalties for the same behavior between men and women. I was saddened by the ending, but it was a true ending for the times, and the logical conclusion to the story.

[Tereza · Rating 5 out of 5]

At times too much details about the life of dairy maids and farm labor, but an interesting love story. Girls you just might like it. Sex,murder, more sex, written in 1891, I think, so the sex is not explicit. The murder is. Plenty of tragedy.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book interesting. It was a bit depressing though. But I guess life can be depressing at times.

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horribly sad, it took me a few days to recover after finishing it. It's one of my favorite books.

[Aeris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know, I know, the author was trying to show how badly and unjustly women were treated then. But it still doesn't take away the anger I feel when reading it...everytime.

[Rehema · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Deep and heartbreaking tale, vividly told.

[Marie French · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way too tragic a story for me. :(

[Cheryl Leon Levy]

Started it; just couldn't get into it.its old and not as well written as I would have hoped.