Tess of the D’Urbervilles (Masterplots, Revised Second Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Thomas Hardy
- First Published: 1891
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Philosophical realism
- Time of Work: Late nineteenth century
- Setting: England
- Principal Characters: Jack Durbeyfield, Tess, Alec D’Urberville, Angel Clare
- Genres: Long fiction, Philosophical realism
- Subjects: Sex or sexuality, Murder or homicide, Nineteenth century, Social issues, Rural or country life, England or English people, Lower classes, Ethics, Fate or fatalism
- Locales: Wessex, England
The Story:
It was a proud day when Jack Durbeyfield learned that he was descended from the famous D’Urberville family. Durbeyfield had never done more work than was necessary to keep his family supplied with meager food and himself with beer, but from that day on, he ceased doing even that small amount of work. His wife joined him in thinking that such a high family should live better with less effort, and she persuaded their oldest daughter, Tess, to visit the Stoke-D’Urbervilles, a wealthy family who had assumed the D’Urberville name because no one else claimed it. It...
[The entire page is 2546 words long]
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