Every summer I read a classic that I have never read before, and since I'm planning to visit Southwest England soon, I felt I should read a novel that takes place there. Descriptively written, with romance and suspense, Hardy portrays Tess as a beautiful, young woman born in poverty with a title that ends up doing her more harm than good. Tess, at the start of her tale, is moral, hard-working and loving, and through no fault of her own, she is forced to face hardship and tragedy. Hardy demonstrates what can happen to an innocent, trusting girl in a man's world.
If you want a quick, light read, Tess of the d'Urbervilles is not it. However, if you're looking for a beautifully written novel that captures life in rural England about 150 years ago, give Tess a try.— Nancy Randall
One of the most notable novels by Thomas Hardy. Initially refused publication when he first presented his finished masterpiece, a book that received mixed reviews when it first appeared. The Book challenged the sexual mores of Hardy's day and was sympathetic on the portrayal of a "fallen woman." Considered to be an important work of English literature, with the original manuscript on display at the British Library, that shows that it was originally titled "Daughter of the d'Urbervilles.