Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles Study Guide

Few novels have caused more controversy than Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Hardy's tragic tale of a fallen woman. Since its first publication in 1892, it has attracted an extraordinary range of critical opinion. In this incisive book Cedric Watts and Jolyon Connell draw on the best of the novel's critics to show why - for all its flaws - Hardy's story has such power and to explain the angry and uncompromising vision contained within its pages. This short, easy-to-read guide is essential reading for anyone who wishes to enhance their understanding of Hardy's fiction.