Skip to content

Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Tess of the d'Urbervilles Mass market paperbound - 2006

by Thomas Hardy; Introduction by Marcelle Clements

Young Tess Durbeyfield attempts to restore her family's fortunes by claiming their connection with the aristocratic d'Urbervilles. But Alec d'Urberville is a rich wastrel who seduces her and makes her life miserable. Includes a new Introduction. Revised reissue.


Summary

Tess Durbeyfield knows what it is to work hard and expect little. But her life is about to veer from the path trod by her mother and grandmother. When her ne’er-do-well father learns that his family is the last of a long noble line, the d’Urbervilles, he sends Tess on a journey to meet her supposed kin—a journey that will see her victimized by lust, poverty, and hypocrisy. Shaped by an acute sense of social injustice and by a vision of human fate cosmic in scope, her story is a singular blending of harsh realism and poignant beauty. Thomas Hardy created in Tess not a standard Victorian heroine but a woman whose intense vitality shines against the bleak backdrop of a dying way of life. The novel shocked contemporary readers with its honesty and remains a timeless commentary on the human condition.

From the publisher

An intimate portrait of a woman, one of literature's most admirable and tragic heroines... Tess Durbeyfield knows what it is to work hard and expect little. But her life is about to veer from the path trod by her mother and grandmother. When her ne'er-do-well father learns that his family is the last of a long noble line, the d'Urbervilles, he sends Tess on a journey to meet her supposed kin--a journey that will see her victimized by lust, poverty, and hypocrisy. Shaped by an acute sense of social injustice and by a vision of human fate cosmic in scope, her story is a singular blending of harsh realism and poignant beauty. Thomas Hardy created in Tess not a standard Victorian heroine but a woman whose intense vitality shines against the bleak backdrop of a dying way of life. The novel shocked contemporary readers with its honesty and remains a timeless commentary on the human condition. With an Introduction by Marcelle Clements

Details

  • Title Tess of the d'Urbervilles
  • Author Thomas Hardy; Introduction by Marcelle Clements
  • Binding Mass Market Paperbound
  • Edition [ Edition: First
  • Pages 432
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Signet Book, New York, New York
  • Date September 5, 2006
  • Features Bibliography, Price on Product - Canadian, Table of Contents
  • ISBN 9780451530271 / 0451530276
  • Weight 0.46 lbs (0.21 kg)
  • Dimensions 6.76 x 4.3 x 0.94 in (17.17 x 10.92 x 2.39 cm)
  • Ages 18 to UP years
  • Grade levels 13 - UP
  • Themes
    • Cultural Region: British
  • Library of Congress subjects Triangles (Interpersonal relations), Women murderers
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2006299551
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

Media reviews

“What a commonplace genius he has; or a genius for the commonplace—I don’t know which.”—D. H. Lawrence



“The greatest tragic writer among English novelists.”—Virginia Woolf

About the author

Born on Egdon Heath, made famous in his novels, Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) worked as an architect for several years. But poetry, which he wrote in his spare time, would prove his first and last literary love. By 1874, he was convinced that he could earn his living as an author and retired from architecture, married, and devoted himself to writing. An extremely prolific novelist, Hardy produced an important book every year or two. In 1896, disturbed by the public outcry over taboo subjects broached in his greatest novels, Tess of the D'Ubervilles and Jude the Obscure, he announced that he would write only poetry. In later years, he was bestowed many honors and, upon his death, was buried with much ceremony in Poet's Corner, Westminster Abbey. Marcelle Clements is a novelist and journalist who has contributed articles on culture, the arts, and politics to many national publications. She is the author of two books of nonfiction, The Dog Is Us and The Improvised Woman, and the novels Rock Me and Midsummer.
Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Signet Classics)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Signet Classics)

by Hardy, Thomas

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 13
9780451530271
ISBN 10
0451530276
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Frederick, Maryland, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$4.66
$3.99 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Signet. Used - Very Good. Very Good condition. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain a few markings such as an owner’s name, short gifter’s inscription or light stamp.
Item Price
$4.66
$3.99 shipping to USA
Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Signet Classics)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Signet Classics)

by Hardy, Thomas

  • Used
Condition
Used - Like New
ISBN 13
9780451530271
ISBN 10
0451530276
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Frederick, Maryland, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$4.66
$3.99 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Signet. Used - Like New. Like New condition. A near perfect copy that may have very minor cosmetic defects.
Item Price
$4.66
$3.99 shipping to USA
Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Signet Classics)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Signet Classics)

by Hardy, Thomas

  • Used
Condition
UsedGood
ISBN 13
9780451530271
ISBN 10
0451530276
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Imperial, Missouri, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$4.74
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
UsedGood. The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.
Item Price
$4.74
FREE shipping to USA
Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Signet Classics)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Signet Classics)

by Hardy, Thomas; Clements, Marcelle [Introduction]

  • New
  • Paperback
Condition
New
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780451530271
ISBN 10
0451530276
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Houston, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$5.35
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Signet, 2006-09-05. Mass Market Paperback. New. 67x14x107.
Item Price
$5.35
FREE shipping to USA
Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Signet Classics)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Signet Classics)

by Hardy, Thomas; Clements, Marcelle [Introduction]

  • New
  • Paperback
Condition
New
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780451530271
ISBN 10
0451530276
Quantity Available
750
Seller
Fairfax Station, Virginia, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$5.94
$3.99 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Signet, 2006-09-05. Mass Market Paperback. New.
Item Price
$5.94
$3.99 shipping to USA
Tess of the D'Urbervilles

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

by Thomas Hardy

  • Used
  • very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780451530271
ISBN 10
0451530276
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$5.99
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 2006. Mass Market Paperback. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$5.99
FREE shipping to USA
Tess of the D'Urbervilles

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

by Thomas Hardy

  • Used
  • as new
  • Paperback
Condition
As New
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780451530271
ISBN 10
0451530276
Quantity Available
3
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$5.99
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 2006. Mass Market Paperback. As New. Disclaimer:Pages are clean and are not marred by notes or folds of any kind. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$5.99
FREE shipping to USA
Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Tess of the d'Urbervilles

by Hardy, Thomas

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780451530271
ISBN 10
0451530276
Quantity Available
3
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$7.21
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
$7.21
FREE shipping to USA
Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Tess of the d'Urbervilles

by Hardy, Thomas

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 13
9780451530271
ISBN 10
0451530276
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$7.21
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Very Good. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects.
Item Price
$7.21
FREE shipping to USA
Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Signet Classics)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Signet Classics)

by Thomas Hardy; Introduction-Marcelle Clements

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780451530271
ISBN 10
0451530276
Quantity Available
1
Seller
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$7.88
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Signet Classics, 2006-09-05. Mass Market Paperback. Good.
Item Price
$7.88
FREE shipping to USA