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pauls's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Blood
hannahr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
bleadenreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
I have been daunted by Thomas Hardy's novels for as long as I can remember. Powerful works of Victorian literature that I knew to be incredibly sad, tragic and emotional seemed beyond me. However - as I grow older I am increasingly drawn to similar styles of literature, so I decided to give Tess of the D'Urbervilles a chance.
I am so glad that I did.
I switched between reading my hard copy and listening to the audiobook narrated by Anne Marie Duff (it was an exquisite narration), which was a fully absorbing reading experience. The audiobook leading me to appreciate the more lyrical, agricultural passages that I would have subconsciously skimmed over reading it myself.
The naivety, courage, resilience and vulnerability of Tess as she repeatedly faced injustice was extremely moving to read in Hardy's emotional and lyrical prose. A 'pure woman' wronged by the men in her life, from the predatory Alec D'Urberville, her hopeless father and the principled Angel Clare - as shown in the famous quote:
'Why didn't you tell me there was danger in men-folk? Why didn't you warn me?'
As well as the wonderful emotional journey of the novel - Hardy also uses the novel to criticise the Victorian sexual hypocrisy through frequent allusions to the Adam & Eve. I also enjoyed the way in which Hardy criticised pedigree, status and social class through the Durbeyfield/D'Urberville storyline.
Hardy also writes an ode to the English countryside as the ruthlessness of modern agriculture directly impacts the synchrony of nature and society with the threat of modern machinery to their ways of life. Many of the descriptions and situations of the novel focus on the way that the characters and society are being separated from a more ancient lifestyle, “the ache of modernity” that Hardy felt as a loss of innocence.
There is so much more I could say about this beautiful novel but I have run out of space. I loved it
I am so glad that I did.
I switched between reading my hard copy and listening to the audiobook narrated by Anne Marie Duff (it was an exquisite narration), which was a fully absorbing reading experience. The audiobook leading me to appreciate the more lyrical, agricultural passages that I would have subconsciously skimmed over reading it myself.
The naivety, courage, resilience and vulnerability of Tess as she repeatedly faced injustice was extremely moving to read in Hardy's emotional and lyrical prose. A 'pure woman' wronged by the men in her life, from the predatory Alec D'Urberville, her hopeless father and the principled Angel Clare - as shown in the famous quote:
'Why didn't you tell me there was danger in men-folk? Why didn't you warn me?'
As well as the wonderful emotional journey of the novel - Hardy also uses the novel to criticise the Victorian sexual hypocrisy through frequent allusions to the Adam & Eve. I also enjoyed the way in which Hardy criticised pedigree, status and social class through the Durbeyfield/D'Urberville storyline.
Hardy also writes an ode to the English countryside as the ruthlessness of modern agriculture directly impacts the synchrony of nature and society with the threat of modern machinery to their ways of life. Many of the descriptions and situations of the novel focus on the way that the characters and society are being separated from a more ancient lifestyle, “the ache of modernity” that Hardy felt as a loss of innocence.
There is so much more I could say about this beautiful novel but I have run out of space. I loved it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Child death
games_pixel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Tess had no personality outside the men in her life and I did not appreciate that!
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
anaoliveira's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, and Emotional abuse
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