coffeewithcut 's review for:

Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

4.0

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I see the importance of the themes, as well as the scandal this explicit mention must have caused in the 19th century. I also cannot help but once again be in great awe of Hardy's masterful lyricism of the prose. However, Tess turned out to be one of my least-like protagonists; she lacked agency in her own story so much, it made me frustrated. The passivity is slightly understandable given the storytelling, but the sheer naiveté and blind adoration of Angel was difficult for me to sympathise with. Sorry not sorry.