Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles - A Routledge Study Guide and Sourcebook (Hardcover)

A tragic tale of cruel fates, touching on rape, illegitimate birth and murder, "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" (1891) shocked its early audiences, but has proved to be one of the most enduring and influential works of English literature. This sourcebook offers an introduction to Thomas Hardy's crucial novel, offering:
*A contextual overview, a chronology and reprinted contemporary documents, including a selection of Hardy's poems
*An overview of the book's early reception and recent critical fortunes, as well as a wide range of reprinted extracts from critical works
Key passages from the novel, reprinted with editorial comment and cross-referenced within the volume to bring contextual and critical issues to bear on the reader's own interpretation of the text
*Suggestions for further reading and a list of relevant web resources.
For students on a wide range of courses, this sourcebook offers the essential stepping-stone from a basic reading knowledge to an advanced understanding of Hardy's best-known novel.