Comment

Jan 26, 2015
“Tess of the d’Urbervilles” follows the unfortunate life of Tess Durberyfield, a girl who lives in rural Victorian England. When the novel begins, Tess is a young teenager living with her family. One morning her mother sends her out on an errand. Tess’s subsequent actions result in the accidental death of the family horse. After this event Tess’s life takes an extreme turn for the worst. The novel follows Tess as she strongly carries on through life despite multiple setbacks that would make anyone else sit down and cry. This novel is absolutely spectacular. “Tess of the d’Urbervilles” is easy to follow, and has loveable characters. Tess is a strong, free-thinking woman whose bravery and persistence will inspire any reader. The other characters of the novel are memorable, and it is refreshing to see a villain who revels in being villainous, and who is ‘evil’ simply because he wants to be. The plot is lengthy but interesting, and it moves at a constant, enjoyable pace. It also spans many years, giving readers a feel that they are ‘in it to win it’ with Tess. The setting is unique and rich with symbolism that helps to bring the story alive. This novel can be described as a coming of age Victorian novel. Overall, the author of this review would highly recommend “Tess of the d’Urbervilles”. It is a good read, and due to its excessive amount of symbolism and hidden meanings, it would be a perfect novel for an essay or ‘book talk’. The author of this review believes “Tess of the d’Urbervilles” to be suitable for ages fourteen and up.