Tess of the d'Urbervilles

First published serially in 1891 in "e;The Graphic"e;, an illustrated British newspaper, "e;Tess of the d'Urbervilles"e; is one of the last novels written by Thomas Hardy. It is the titular story of Teresa "e;Tess"e; Durbeyfield, the oldest child of John and Joan Durbeyfield. The Durbeyfields are a poor family living in rural England who are led to believe by a local parson that they may actually be related to the d'Urbervilles, a noble Norman family. Trying to capitalize on this knowledge the Durbeyfields send a reluctant Tess to work at the d'Urberville's estate, a rural mansion in the nearby town of Trantridge. Tess is able to secure a position as a poultry keeper on the estate when she draws the interest of the family's libertine son, Alec. Tess dislikes Alec but endures his unwanted advances in order to help her family, a compromise that will ultimately lead to her ruin. Because it challenged the sexual morals of late Victorian England, "e;Tess of the d'Urbervilles"e; was harshly criticized following its initial publication, however since that time it has come be regarded by many as Thomas Hardy's fictional masterpiece.