Tess of the D’Urbervilles Thomas Hardy Tess of the D’Urbervilles

Personal Info Born June 2 1840 father was a mason family had been powerful, wealthy, but they lost this through the years father loved music, played fiddle sent to the village school - 8 yrs grew up in Dorset - Wessex began writing poetry - 16 yrs married in 1874 - spent most of time in the country

Career / Literary Beginnings 1862 became an architect in London under Arthur Blomfield ill health forced him to leave London friend, Horace Moule, encouraged his writing Moule committed suicide First novel The Poor Man & the Lady was withdrawn on the advice of publisher George Merideth (soften satire & complicate plot)

Works Desperate Remedies 1871 Under the Greenwood Tree 1872 A Pair of Blue Eyes (serial) 1873 Far from the Madding Crowd 1874 The Return of the Native 1878 Mayor of Casterbridge 1886 Jude the Obscure 1895 - last novel - had a stormy reception

Hardy’s Cottage Near Dorchester

London Stonehenge Dorset

Dorset at Dawn

Tess of the D’Urbervilles Written in 1889 refused by two publishers he altered it to make it suitable for family readers first ran as a serial in the Graphic in England and Harper’s Bazaar in America Tess lifted him to world fame

A few notes on Tess Victorian Time Period - full of conflict & contradiction Agriculture vs. Industry - Past vs. Future - Hardy attempts to build a bridge between the two Set in Wessex - most of his novels are - countryside is almost a character in itself Novel divided into 59 chapters,7 phases which correspond w/ Tess’ life cycles