I always like to start the new year with a classic. The year-end slowdown and the colder weather make me want to read something long and leisurely. Tess of the D’urbervilles by Thomas Hardy was on my TBR all last year, but only in winter did I get into the mood for it.
Still, I had some apprehensions.
I kept getting stuck with the book’s extremely dry and verbose foreword. Then, impatiently, I stumbled upon some critical book reviews that condemned it as overly dramatic, that the characters’ actions and reactions are not always believable, and, worst of all, that it reinforces gender stereotypes.
So, yes, there were reasons why I put off the book all last year.
Book Synopsis
When Tess Durbeyfield is driven by family poverty to claim kinship with the wealthy D’Urbervilles and seek a portion of their family fortune, meeting her cousin, Alec, is her downfall. A very different man, Angel Clare, seems to offer her love and salvation, but Tess must choose whether to reveal her past or remain silent in the hope of a peaceful future.
~ Synopsis from GoodReads
Review of Tess of the d’Urbervilles
I am so glad I ignored the critical reviews and gave this book a chance. I loved it! Hardy’s writing style is so beautiful, evocative, and lyrical, painting vivid pictures of the countryside and its inhabitants.
Tess is so well-drawn – complex and multidimensional, capable of good and bad actions. Her fate is shaped by the societal norms and expectations of her time. She is a strong, resilient, and determined character who tries to make the best of the difficult situations she finds herself in. I couldn’t always relate to her actions or impulses, but I really appreciated her deep feelings and could empathize with her pain, longing, and confusion.
I, however, disliked both the men in the story heartily. Alec is wealthy, selfish, and irresponsible – used to getting his way, and taking what he wants, no matter the obstacle. For some reason, Angel is a prig who is put on a pedestal by Tess. Neither man was worthy of Tess’ sacrifices and suffering.
Still, they were typical men of that time, I suppose.
Apart from the love triangle, this book is a beautiful meditation on life in the countryside during that time. It’s still primarily an agricultural society, but industrialization is making its way slowly. Within a few years of this novel, England would be a different place – where education, industry, and mass production would be prized over manual labor and small-scale farming.
Hardy very aptly foresees this.
The tragedy of rural England is not only that the poor are poor, but that they are made poor by their surroundings.
Overall, I loved, loved, loved this book, and I highly recommend it. There are a lot of layers to this book, and it’s a lot more than a Victorian love triangle.
I read this book as part of my Classics Club initiative to read 50 classics within five years. I am nowhere close to completing this challenge even after five years, but I’d like to add this book to the challenge nevertheless.
