Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman

Often labeled Hardy's masterpiece, TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES is a story told at three levels. First, it is a romantic and tragic tale of love gone astray. Second, it is an indictment of the class system so beloved of all Victorians. And third, it is an inquiry into what deities or fates control the destinies of humans.

Hardy is a masterful storyteller, and Tess a captivating heroine. Who can fail to sympathize with a girl who is poor but pure, whose own innocence leads her into circumstances of frightful desperation?