Tess of the d’Urbervilles

Tess Durbeyfield, a country girl of 16, is the eldest child of John Durbeyfield, a haggler, and his wife Joan. When the local parson tells John that “Durbeyfield” is a corruption of “D’Urberville” and that he is descended from an ancient Norman family, John celebrates by getting drunk. Tess drives to market in her father’s place but falls asleep at the reins; the wagon crashes and the family’s only horse is killed. Feeling guilty, she agrees to visit Mrs d’Urberville, a wealthy widow, to “claim kin”, unaware that the widow’s late husband, Simon Stoke, had adopted the surname to distance himself from his tradesman’s roots. Alec d’Urberville, the son, is attracted to Tess and finds her a job as his mother’s poultry keeper. Tess resists Alec’s manipulative attentions.

One night, on the pretence of rescuing her from a fight, Alec takes her on his horse to a remote spot, and it is implied that he rapes her. The following summer, Tess gives birth to a sickly boy. Unable to find a person prepared to christen a child born out of wedlock, Tess attempts to do it herself, naming her dying child Sorrow. Some years later, Tess finds employment as a milkmaid at Talbothays Dairy, where her past is unknown. She falls in love with Angel Clare, an apprentice gentleman farmer studying dairy management. Angel’s clergyman’s father is surprised that his son wishes to marry a milkmaid but makes no objection, understanding Tess to be a pure and devout country maiden. Feeling she has no choice but to conceal her past, Tess is reluctant to accept Angel’s marriage proposal but eventually agrees. She later tries several times to tell Angel of her history, but he says that they can share confidences after the wedding. The couple spend their wedding night at an old d’Urberville mansion. When Angel confesses that he once had a brief affair with an older woman, Tess tells him about Alec, sure now he will understand and forgive.