{"product_id":"tess-of-the-durbervilles-9780141439594","title":"Tess of the D'Urbervilles","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'The greatest tragic writer among the English novelists' Virginia Woolf\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWith its depiction of the wronged 'pure woman' Tess and its powerful criticism of Victorian hypocrisy, \u003ci\u003eTess of the D'Urbervilles\u003c\/i\u003e is one of the most moving and poetic of Hardy's novels. When its heroine, Tess Durbeyfield, is driven by family poverty to claim kinship with the wealthy D'Urbervilles, meeting her 'cousin' Alec proves to be 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eEdited with notes by TIM DOLIN and an Introduction by MARGARET R. HIGONNET\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThomas Hardy\u003c\/b\u003e (1840-1928) immortalized the site of his birth--Egdon Heath, in Dorset, near Dorchester--in his writing. Delicate as a child, he was taught at home by his mother before he attended grammar school. At sixteen, Hardy was apprenticed to an architect, and for many years, architecture was his profession; in his spare time, he pursued his first and last literary love, poetry. Finally convinced that he could earn his living as an author, he retired from architecture, married, and devoted himself to writing. An extremely productive novelist, Hardy published an important book every year or two. In 1896, disturbed by the public outcry over the unconventional subjects of his two greatest novels--\u003cb\u003eTess of the D'Urbervilles\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eJude the Obscure\u003c\/b\u003e--he announced that he was giving up fiction and afterward produced only poetry. In later years, he received many honors. He was buried in Poet's Corner, in Westminster Abbey. It was as a poet that he wished to be remembered, but today critics regard his novels as his most memorable contribution to English literature for their psychological insight, decisive delineation of character, and profound presentation of tragedy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTim Dolin\u003c\/b\u003e teaches English at the University of Newcastle, New South Wales. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eMargaret R. Higonnet\u003c\/b\u003e teaches English and Comparative Literature at the University of Connecticut.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Penguin Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50606093926674,"sku":"9780141439594","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_e4d107ba-fac1-4c54-a062-7d130067737f.jpg?v=1732288651","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/tess-of-the-durbervilles-9780141439594","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}