Tess of the d'Urbervilles

A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented

Author: Thomas Hardy
Published: 1891
Language: English
Wordcount: 149,682 / 427 pg
Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 71.4
LoC Category: PR
Downloads: 15,889
Added to site: 2006.06.21
mnybks.net#: 13943
Origin: gutenberg.org
More Info: en.wikipedia.org

"Tess" is an exemplification of all the horrors of malignant destiny. By nature its heroine is incarnate goodness: every fibre of her being is pure; and yet, under the stress of circumstances, the compulsion of force and the beguilement of fraud, partly through ignorance, partly through delirium and desperation, she is harassed, degraded, despoiled, plunged into misery, goaded to the insane commission of homicide, and finally is hanged for murder.

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accustomed to many eyes.

And as each and all of them were warmed without by the sun, so each had a private little sun for her soul to bask in; some dream, some affection, some hobby, at least some remote and distant hope which, though perhaps starving to nothing, still lived on, as hopes will. They were all cheerful, and many of them merry.

They came round by The Pure Drop Inn, and were turning out of the high road to pass through a wicket-gate into the meadows, when one of the women said--

"The Load-a-Lord! Why, Tess Durbeyfield, if there isn't thy father riding hwome in a carriage!"

A young member of the band turned her head at the exclamation. She was a fine and handsome girl--not handsomer than some others, possibly--but her mobile peony mouth and large innocent eyes added eloquence to colour and shape. She wore a red ribbon in her hair, and was the only one of the white company who could boast of such a pronounced adornment. As she looked round Durbeyfield was seen moving alon

Reviews

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Average Rating of 3 reviews: ****
2010.03.31
Monica
**...

Really great if you like impressively depressing books that are written really well.

2008.04.11
Judy
****.

Great read. Brings you into the English country side with a interesting point of view.

2007.08.08
Kay
*****

Beautiful tale though the ending could have been better.Nevertheless an unforgettable saga of love,human tenacity & frailty.

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