I received my July selection from the Greatest Books Ever Written subscription with Easton Press. This month the book is Tess of the d’Urbervilles. It is not one I would likely pick to read, but that is part of the reason I am signed up for this subscription. I plan to read most, if not all, of the books they send me.
Tess of the d’Urbervilles was first published by British author Thomas Hardy in serial form in the weekly illustrated newspaper, the Graphic in 1891, and in book form later that year. It departed from Victorian norms with its open treatment of sexuality and religion.
After her family discovers a connection to a noble lineage, Tess Durbeyfield is sent to seek assistance from a wealthy household bearing their ancestral name—the d’Urbervilles. Her life takes a series of dramatic turns shaped by love, betrayal, and the rigid moral expectations of her time. Caught between personal desire and social constraints, Tess’s journey becomes a profound exploration of resilience, injustice, and the human condition.
Author: Thomas Hardy
Genre: Literary Fiction
Published: 1891
Themes:
Purity and societal judgment: Tess is judged harshly for her sexual past, despite her victimization.
Fate and determinism: Hardy suggests that individuals are often at the mercy of forces beyond their control.
Nature vs. industrialism: The rural landscape plays a major role, often symbolizing Tess’s inner life.
Critique of Victorian morality: The novel challenges the era’s strict and often hypocritical views on sexuality and class.
Sources:
ChatGPT. Response to “Can you give me a three
sentence synopsis of the book with no
spoilers?” OpenAI, 8 July 2025,
chat.openai.com/chat.
"Tess of the d'Urbervilles." Merriam Webster's
Encyclopedia of Literature, Merriam-Webster,
1995. Gale Literature: LitFinder,
link.gale.com/apps/doc/RN1480009032/LITF?
u=pcc&sid=bookmark-LITF&xid=e53d516e.
Accessed 8 July 2025.
The Philomath 
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