Author: Thomas Hardy
Genre: Classic
Pages (words): 384 (148,121)
Readability: 8.8
Rating (out of 5 stars): ****
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: Tess Derbyfield has grown up very poor for her whole life. When her father learns that they are actually related to the ancient noble line of the d'Urbervilles, he sends her off to visit some long-lost (and rich) "cousins" who may just provide them with a better living. Instead of finding a better life, however, Tess instead finds a harsh world in which people are self-centered and prejudiced to the extreme, with disastrous consequences resulting for all involved.
Thoughts: I really liked this book a lot. Hardy does an incredible job of highlighting the weaknesses that many of us have. Where one man cannot overcome his appetites and passions, another man cannot overcome his prejudices. At the end of the book, I'm still left wondering which was worse, overall. Anyway, that's what I loved about the book. The plot itself was good also (if a little far-fetched), but I had already seen a BBC version of the story so there were no real surprises in it for me, which was unfortunate, as I think I would have liked it even more if I didn't know what was coming. All in all, I really highly rate this lesser-known classic.
Disclaimer: Deals with adult ideas, but it's very clean.
2 comments:
I really like Thomas Hardy. Did you read "Mayor of Casterbridge"? It's my favorite of his that I have read. For a "lesser known" classical author, I find him quite readable and enjoyable.
Poor Tess. My favorite Hardy book is "The Return of the Native," because the language and imagery are so deep and rich. But I also really like "Far From the Madding Crowd;" it's the only Hardy book I've ever read that didn't send me into morose depression.
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