Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Guide to Reading and Reflecting

by Karen Swallow Prior, Thomas Hardy

Jane Eyre. Frankenstein. Tess of the d'Urbervilles. You’re familiar with these pillars of classic literature. You have seen plenty of Frankenstein costumes, watched the film adaptations, and may even be able to rattle off a few quotes, but do you really know how to read these books? Do you know anything about the authors who wrote them, and what the authors were trying to teach readers through their stories? Do you know how to read them as a Christian? Taking into account your old worldview, as well as that of the author?
 
In this beautiful cloth-over-board edition bestselling author, literature professor, and avid reader Karen Swallow Prior will guide you through Tess of the d'Urbervilles . She will not only navigate you through the pitfalls that trap readers today, but show you how to read it in light of the gospel, and to the glory of God.
 
This edition includes a thorough introduction to the author, context, and overview of the work (without any spoilers for first-time readers), the full original text, as well as footnotes and reflection questions throughout to help the reader attain a fuller grasp of Tess of the d'Urbervilles .
 
The full series currently Heart of Darkness, Sense and Sensibility, Jane Eyre, Frankenstein, The Scarlet Letter, and T ess of the d'Urbervilles. 
 

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Historical Fiction

664 pages, Hardcover

Published April 5, 2022

About the author

Karen Swallow Prior (PhD, SUNY Buffalo) is the award-winning author of The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis; On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books; Fierce Convictions: The Extraordinary Life of Hannah More--Poet, Reformer, Abolitionist; and Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me. She is a frequent speaker, a monthly columnist at Religion News Service, and has written for Christianity Today, The Atlantic, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and Vox. She is a Contributing Editor for Comment, a founding member of The Pelican Project, a Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum, and a Senior Fellow at the International Alliance for Christian Education.

Reviews

[Savannah Knepp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book—not because it was fun, but because it was engaging and thought-provoking. I went in knowing very little about the story, which elevated the experience for me. The uncertainty kept me invested, and the ending truly caught me off guard.

All I wanted to do when I finished this book was get into a good hearty discussion about the themes throughout the story. Alas, it seems like no one else I know has read it. If you have, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Themes I found interesting:
- Fate vs. choice
- The danger of hyper-idealization—This was especially poignant to me; when we put people on a pedestal, what are the consequences?
- The double standard of morality between men and women, especially in that time period.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, Tess. It had been long enough that I remembered little but had a sense of sadness and knew something was coming. Sniffle.

[Gina Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I’ll be thinking about for a long time. It’s well written and the story is captivating. I frequently had a hard time putting it down and it definitely takes you for a roller coaster ride of emotions. It addresses head on the double standards of the time regarding “purity” and also showcases Hardy’s belief that sometimes, no matter how hard you want to, you can’t overcome your circumstances.

Karen Swallow Prior’s front-matter and discussion questions in this edition were really interesting and helpful, plus it’s just a beautiful book!

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read along with Close Reads. This wasn’t a very pleasant story but it was so good. It’s the sort of book you want to yell at or shake in frustration half the time but can’t put down. I appreciated this version with Karen Swallow Prior’s footnotes—particularly for references I never would have understood on my own. It was helpful without being intrusive.

[Elizabeth]

That did not end AT ALL how I expected. Now I’m really eager for the last Close Reads episode because I know they are going to have a lot of ground to cover with the ending. I don’t know that I really enjoyed reading this book, but I am glad I read it. I definitely resonate more with Gaskell and Trollope’s writing and characters, but that is just a personal preference. Hardy’s writing and symbolism is exquisite.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

These characters be crazy and this book does not disappoint.

Reviews that described this book as sad and a tearful read led me to be caught off guard when I got into the novel. While sad is definitely an applicable descriptor for the story, this book didn’t “feel sad” to me and really didn’t have any one dominant emotion throughout—it was a rollercoaster ride. Hardy is making multiple cultural criticisms with this book and every sad element to the story was described under his analytical eye, so it didn’t make me sad or moody to read the upsetting events of this book. I wasn’t depressed by the events as the author was always advocating for the unnecessariness of such circumstances to come about and criticizing the culture that forced them about—even in a fictional scenario. The narration is the key component allowing this book to not provoke overwhelmingly sad feelings as the sad components were perceived by me not as a mood projected from the book but a statement made by the book.

I really enjoyed reading from Karen Swallow Prior’s studious edition of Hardy’s classic novel as her discussion questions after each stage encouraged my own pondering of the story. It really is a complex novel with complex characters that deserve the thoughtful analysis the reader will feel compelled to undertake as they read. I’ll be hurrying back to Karen Swallow Prior’s other volume, “Booked” to reread the chapter that first introduced me to this novel.

The thought-provoking, analytical complexity of this classic work aside, I repeat what I said so unsophisticatedly at the beginning (and what I declared again and again to my husband as I read), these characters be crazy. This book was a thrill to read. I was surprised how frustrated I got with every. single. character. This book is everything I love about the victorian genre and more. It’s in turns suspenseful and concerning, dreamy romance, and is filled (starting about half way through) with one wonderfully eerie victorian scene after another.

This book somehow simultaneously satisfies a reader’s desire for entertainment and any nerd’s craving for an analytic read. I would reccomend it to anyone who only relates to one of these desires for their next read, if not both. I’m so glad I finally got around to reading this classic and I have already ordered a copy of “Far From the Madding Crowd”, Hardy’s other classic novel.

[Ashley Hoss · Rating 3 out of 5]

To a degree, this book left me speechless. This is my first time reading Tess of the d’Urbervilles, so every part of it took me by surprise. It was well written and captivating, though I didn’t enjoy the ending. It had a distinctly male voice, though centered on a female protagonist (Tess).

I appreciate Dr. Prior’s commentary, footnotes, and questions because they have helped me process the book as I have been reading and now that I’ve finished. The last set of questions truly gave great food for thought. If you’ve read Dr. Prior’s On Reading Well, then you know her philosophy of pulling out theological concepts in reading literature. Her annotations here help put that philosophy into action. If you haven’t read any of her books, I would start with On Reading Well, then turn to the annotated classics (although they could be read on their own without needing ORW). I would recommend this edition of Tess of the d’Urbervilles to those who are interested in getting deeper into the text. It would also be perfect for a book club or if you’re teaching English literature.

[Christa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't even know where to begin. I "enjoyed" this book and also wanted to throw it across the room? So glad I read this with other people.

[Samuel Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad I finally got around to reading this classic! Very interesting story with easy-to-read prose. Listen to my full review: https://anchor.fm/fracturedfiction/ep...

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this last in high school, I think, and I didn't really remember much about it. This book has huge ideas and it helped so much to read an edition that included a "guide". If you aren't familiar with the concept, the guide consisted of footnotes on difficult words and the sources of lines the characters quote, as well as a few other ideas. There were also "reflection" questions at the end of each section and more at the end of the book asking about the themes of the book as a whole. I found this all extrememly helpful yet absolutely unobtrusive.
As to the story itself - it's harsh. Classics are rarely light, easy reads because light, easy reads rarely speak to the hearts of generation after generation. Surprisingly, much of what this book has to say is incredibly relevant to our day. There are themes of gender and income inequality, as well as sexual assault and its aftermath. If you're in the mood for something serious, I'd highly recommend this.

[Nathan Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tess of the d'Urbervilles is one of my favorite books and an exceptional literary tragedy. I first read it about 9 years ago and it holds up extremely well to a re-read. I noticed a lot of new things that I didn't before, such as the classism woven throughout the book, some of the powerful imagery, and how Joan is somewhat responsible for each new tragedy that Tess experiences. This edition of the book is also outstanding, with a great introduction and good reflection/discussion questions at the end of each phase.

[Lydia Alvarado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tess of the D'urbervilles: Thomas Hardy's criticism of religion, tradition, and the morals of the Victorian age through the experience of a woman named Tess. In the words of Karen Swallow Prior, "The Christian reader is left feeling sad rather than attacked. Hardy isn't so much assailing the Christian faith and worldview as giving us the chance to see what the world looks like when we no longer can - or will - believe."

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

For an era stereotyped by prudishness and restrained emotion, Victorian literature sure didn't hold back on drama.

[Lghiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

First published in serialized form in 1892, this classic has been read and studied over the years. Summaries are available everywhere on the Internet, so I want to share with you the particular edition I read this summer with my book club. It includes “A Guide to Reading and Reflecting” by Karen Swallow Prior who is a literature professor and author herself. We have read other books that include her notes, but I think this is the best one of the series that we have read.

Prior gives a lot of background on Thomas Hardy and the times in which he lived that are essential for understanding Tess of the d’Urbervilles. Born to a working class family, he longed for a scholarly life which at times seemed out of his reach. For example, he desired ordination but was unable to afford the university costs and so became a draftsman for a church architect. He studied on his own, and this book is full of classical and Biblical references. He also read books that are contradictory to traditional Christianity. He became an agnostic who attended church all his life. These are a few of the conflicts that show up thematically in Tess of the d’Urbervilles along with sexual purity being essential to women, but not to men. The plight of agricultural workers can not be missed as well as the difficulties of overcoming class rules and status. Nature itself and self-determination are also central themes.

In this edition, Prior helps the reader delve into the deeper meanings of the book. Hardy creates interesting characters and a solid plot, but also a certain line to destruction and despair for Tess. Prior points out Hardy’s use of literary techniques but also how to read this novel from a Christian worldview. I think her comments would also be interesting to those with a secular point of view.
Prior does not change anything in the original text. She does include brief, helpful footnotes that explain words that might be unfamiliar to a modern reader as well as classical allusions. Hardy divided the book into seven sections called “Phases.” Prior ends each phase with reflection questions which are valuable in pointing out aspects the reader might miss and in demanding deeper introspection. Prior concludes the book with questions “For Further Reflection” which apply to the text as a whole.

[Stacie Ange · Rating 5 out of 5]

“and she went her way without knowing that the greatest misfortune of her life was this feminine loss of courage at the last and critical moment...” Ch. 44 -recurring theme.

I bought this novel last year for myself for Christmas. After listening to the Close Reads podcast for the Scarlet Letter, I knew this had to be my next book. They kept comparing Tess and Hester especially in reference towards how society treats a sinner.

I would put this novel in my top five of classic books. My heart broke for Tess, for her situation, and for her choices. Every single person in her life wanted something from her, and she felt powerless to change that. I think it’s interesting that up until the end, people had kept love from her. However, when she finally does stand up for herself, that is what ultimately leads to her separation from love. The line at the end of chapter 58 was probably the most heartbreaking to me.

“It is as it should be," she murmured. "Angel, I almost glad—yes, glad! This happiness could not have lasted. It was too much. I have had enough; and no shall not live for you to despise me!"

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not quite right to say I loved this story, but I did love the experience of the story. Thomas Hardy has recently become one of my favorites. His writing is so beautiful, and this was so tragic. I’m glad I read this during mid-life, rather than in high school, or even college. I don’t think I would have appreciated it when I was young. Maybe I’m mistaken, though. Maybe I would have gotten different wisdom from it at that time.

As for the edition— the book is great. The paper is nice and the binding makes it a delight to use. Frankly, after reading the questions following the first and second parts I skipped the rest. So many of the vocabulary footnotes were unnecessary that it was distracting. It may be good for a high-schooler. I wasn’t the right audience for a study edition, but I really wanted a nice copy. Side note, the cover picked up a ton of pet hair.

[Rachel Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a fun story with a happy ending, go somewhere else.

But if you want a book with a fascinating social commentary and brilliant allusions to Scripture this is for you.

I’m a sucker for a good character, and this book had several excellent ones, including two that are fun to despise.

Karen Swallow Prior’s notes explaining unfamiliar words and concepts as well as citing the author’s many literary and Biblical references were extremely helpful and made the book much more enjoyable to read.

[Rebecca Wasch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a hard book, but well-written. I knew going in that it was a tragedy, so was somewhat prepared, but found myself hoping along with Tess through hardship after hardship (a sign of Thomas Hardy’s skill). Hardy wrote a world without grace, and Tess suffers in the way that anyone would in such a world. Though Tess suffers most, only a handful of characters show any signs of joy or contentment, giving me a lot to think about even a few days after finishing.

[Lizzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars? Read this along with Close Reads, and I enjoyed the story and how Hardy was doing his own version of a Greek Tragedy, but I found the characters to be 2D and pawn-like for the sake of making certain points. I’m glad I read this version with the footnotes to help me understand what was happening!

[Dayna Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The classic romantic historical fiction tragedy of a young farm girl who is seduced by a wealthy landowner and the horrible circumstances which follow. Tess's passivity is so noticeable in this novel and this can be off-putting to modern readers. The true question is who is the real villain: Angel or Alec? A Reader's Corner Must Read!

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.75*
“So much drama in the LBC…”
This is a very dramatic book. There is a lot of excitement, there are a lot of vivid scenes and language, and there is a lot of Biblical imagery. I was just a little disappointed at how underdeveloped the main character was, and how a hypocritical character ultimately got the thing that was revealed earlier as a character flaw.

[Kara]

I’m glad to be reading classics, but this is no Austen story. The ending left me angry, but the book itself was good-Especially in light of the conversation that’s going on again about David & Bathsheba in the Twittersphere.

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book when I first read it 15 years ago. Boy, the second time was rough. I almost left the last 30 pages alone so I could imagine a different ending. Still very enjoyable and it was enhanced by Karen Swallow Prior’s notes and questions.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent edition of a book that fundamentally rings somewhat illusory.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely edition of Hardy’s bleak novel. This plot gives a reader so much to process.

[Wade Bearden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a devastating read.

Highly recommend!

[Alayna Rolling · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an ending