Classics · Literary
Tess of the d'Urbervilles
A poor Wessex girl sent to claim kinship with a wealthy family is wronged by a man there, and later struggles to build a life with the idealistic man she loves as her past catches up.
Facts last checked 2026-10-17
- First published
- 1891
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 535
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you like slow Victorian tragedies with strong landscapes and a critique of social judgment.
Skip this if you want a happy ending or a lively pace.
The feel
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Quick answers about Tess of the d'Urbervilles
- What is Tess of the d'Urbervilles about?
- A poor Wessex girl sent to claim kinship with a wealthy family is wronged by a man there, and later struggles to build a life with the idealistic man she loves as her past catches up.
- Who should read Tess of the d'Urbervilles?
- Read it if you like slow Victorian tragedies with strong landscapes and a critique of social judgment. Skip it if you want a happy ending or a lively pace.
- How long and how fast is Tess of the d'Urbervilles?
- It is a slow-paced, long read of about 535 pages, first published in 1891.
- Does Tess of the d'Urbervilles have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Sexual assault, Death.
- Can I borrow Tess of the d'Urbervilles for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Tess of the d'Urbervilles; the borrow button above searches it for you.
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|---|---|---|
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