thomas hardy
tess of the durbervilles


the greatest representative of the late victorian literature, thomas hardy, was among the novelists who marked the transition to xxth century english and american fiction. he wrote many novels such as far from the madding crowd, jude the obscure, the mayor of casterbridge, etc.
tess of the durbervilles is regarded as hardys tragic masterpiece. it is the story of innocence, of man and nature, of history and its relation to the present, concentrated on the fate of a simple young girl.
summary of the novel
tess durbeyfield is the daughter of a poor farmer, whose life is troubled by a minister who once told him he was a descendant of the ancient noble and rich family of the durberville. in order to acquire favorable relationshipps he sends his daughter as a maid to the house of a family who bears the surname durberville with doubtful right to it. seduced by alec, the heir of the family, tess gi...