Tess of the d’Urbervilles
Hardy’s 1891 novel of a girl sent to claim kinship with a rich family, raped by the son of the house, and punished by everyone for the rest of her life for what was done to her. Hardy subtitled it A Pure Woman, which is the whole argument, and the reviewers who objected understood him correctly. The Penguin Classics edition.
Recommended by 1 Person
Lily King
One of my favourite sections of any book in literature is the part where Tess goes to work on the dairy farm and meets Angel Claire. She’s just had such a hard, hard time, and then she has this experience of being provided for and taken care of by kind people. For once in her life, she’s safe and secure. Happiness suddenly happens to her, and it’s so unexpected.
Interview · October 2025
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