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Tess of the d'Urbervilles

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Thomas Hardy

Thomas Hardy's tragic tale tells the story of Tess Durbeyfield, a simple and innocent girl when, after a fortune that kills her family's horse and for which she feels responsible, goes to live and work for the d'Urbervilles, a rich widow and her son supposed to be the younger branch of Tess's own noble family.  Alec d'Urberville steals her innocence, and, later, another man steals her heart.  When Tess and Angel Clare are married however, the story of Alec's deception of Tess must be told to him.  The injustices done to Tess throughout her life bring to mind the idea that Fate controls us all.  Once the reader is familiar with the descriptive prose and archaic words Hardy uses (for the words, the notes at the back of the book are wonderful) he or she cannot help but be swept into Tess's world, captivated by her life, and destroyed by her tragic end.  All in all, a tragedy that is stunningly beautiful despite it's inevitable end.  

"As Tess's own people down in those retreats are never tired of saying among each other in their fatalistic way: 'It was to be.'  There lay the pity of it."

Readers might also enjoy:

The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Emma by Jane Austen

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte