Thomas Hardy 
Tess of the d’Urbervilles 

Thomas Hardy’s second to last novel, ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’ is the story of Teresa ‘Tess’ Durbeyfield. The plot of the novel is set in motion when a local parson mentions that the Durbeyfields are actually related to the noble family the d’Urbervilles. Trying to capitalize on this knowledge the Durbeyfields send a reluctant Tess to work at the d’Urbervilles estate. There the tragic fate of Tess ensues. ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’ challenged the sexual mores of the time and because of this was not well received when it was first published. The novel however has weathered the test of time and is now considered a great classic of English Literature.