Tess of the D'urbervilles

"Tess of the d’Urbervilles" by Thomas Hardy is a classic novel set in rural Wessex during the 1870s, following Tess Durbeyfield, a young woman from an impoverished farming family whose life changes after she visits a wealthy relative. The story explores themes of social class and morality as Tess navigates her challenging circumstances. Recognized as a major work of nineteenth-century English literature, the novel initially received mixed reviews for its daring treatment of Victorian sexual morals.