Tess of the D'Urbervilles

Rating:
Summary: Cruel and Depressing Story
Review: Hardy paints a cruel picture of women in lower society. They are either tempted or cause evil mischief with a tragic ending. He had created a virtuous women in the form of Tess and ends her as a criminal. It is impossible for a women of Tess's virtue to turn into a criminal. I would not recommend this book to anyone who would look to escape from Depression.

Rating:
Summary: Reality lessons for Thomas Hardy
Review: How nice. Tess is a totally unrealistic character-she has more sorrow in her life then most of us have in a century. This book is extremely sad, and I don't understand why it's a classic. Tess is very happy until her alchoholic dad discovers that they were a noble family, so, getting to big for his britches, he sends Tess over to another D'urberville family, which actually just adopted the name because they wanted to seem influential. That's when the trouble starts. Soon, Tess gives birth to a baby, and goes back home in disgrace. Then she meets another nice guy, who abandons her when he learns of her past. They author could have done with some happpy scenes...life's not all sadness!

Rating:
Summary: Book Review
Review: Ok, this one is for all my friends at BHS. We read this book in class, and the book wasn't bad, but that is a hard thing to tell when you haven't read through the book because your english teacher doesn't encourage it enough because the students make the quizes for each phase. EVERYONE cheated. It was good. If she spent more time on teaching correctly rather than perming and afro-ing her hair, maybe we'd have enjoyed it more.

Rating:
Summary: Tess - complicated, tragic heroine
Review: This book is wonderful for many reasons and especially for its portrayal of Tess. It raises questions (still pertinent today) about women, reputation, and sexuality in society. Hardy was certainly ahead of his time in pointing out that we do as much harm to women with prudishness and double standards as we do with physical and sexual violence. Don't miss _Jude the Obscure_ and _The Mayor of Casterbridge_.

Rating:
Summary: A Classic Tragedy
Review: All I could say when I finished the book was, WOW. The rigid 1800s society and the wickedness of Alec were what really killed Tess by increments, but through it all she was a noblewoman in the truest sense. Thomas Hardy creates a strong female character that is sure to continue to stand the test of time with flying colors.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful!
Review: Never have I been so moved by a work of fiction... Hardy's masterpiece embodies the perpetual uniqueness of War and peace - and the emotional conviction of Wuthering Heights. Must, must, must read!

Rating:
Summary: Zzzzzzzzzz.....
Review: TESS is one of the more boring works of literature. Yes, Hardy was rather a revolutionary for the period as far as his choice of heroine and the subjects with which he dealt, but that doesn't necessarily add up to a good book. The story itself isn't bad -- if you're willing to wade through all the unnecessary muck to piece it together. However, I have trouble stomaching the fact that Tess is lauded as a brave and virtuous heroine when she is actually completely spineless and at times rather annoying. I won't spoil the story by giving examples, since you may very well be intending to read it anyway, or being forced to read it for a class. If the latter is so...good luck.

Rating:
Summary: Grim, but beautiful
Review: This is possibly the saddest novel I have ever read. I have been thinking about it ever since I finished it. Few novels have evoked so much emotion in me. Tess makes me feel sad, frustrated, and angry.
Tess of the Durbervilles is the story of Tess Durbeyfield, the daughter of poor, alcoholic parents who learn that they are of a noble bloodline and send Tess off to work for her noble "cousin" Alec Durberville. While there, Alec rapes Tess and she has his illegitimate baby. This event ruins Tess's life. She is no longer pure, and virginal, and therefore brings shame upon her true love Angel Clare when her past is revealed.
It is hard to believe, in this day and age, that Tess is shamed and ostracized because she was the victim of a horrible crime. Hardy's novel is a powerful statement on the questionable morality of Victorian society. Tess, who is a heroic, brave, caring, selfless woman, is not worthy of Angel because she is somehow impure due to the rape. Angel, who has lived with a woman out of wedlock and is clearly not a virgin himself, feels justified in punishing Tess when he learns of her past.
The writing is beautiful, but the story tragic. It will stay with you a long time.

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't stop thinking about it for days afterward
Review: I love all of Hardy's books but this is my favorite thus far. The ending is definately not what I expected and I could not stop thinking about it for days afterward. It is a break from his earlier works in that things do not really turn out for the better in the end. In typical Hardy style, people and events in the main characters past come back to bite her in the behind at the worst moments. This story is like a powder keg which is gradually packed over time until the fuze is lit and everything explodes into a million pieces.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Several years ago when I was in high school we had to read The Mayor of Casterbridge (also by Hardy). I did NOT enjoy it under the circumstances, but decided to give Tess a try a few years later. I must say, it has certainly become one of my favorite all time books. Hardy really lets the reader see and feel what is happening in the lives of the characters. I must admit that I even shed a few tears at the end (something I rarely do while reading). This book is a must read for anyone who likes literature at all!