Hardy tells the story of Tess Durbeyfield, a beautiful young woman living with her impoverished family in Wessex, the southwestern English county immortalized by Hardy. After the family learns of their connection to the wealthy d'Urbervilles, they send Tess to claim a portion of their fortune.

Tess d'Urberville

The date at which the following events are assumed to have occurred may be set down as between 1840 and 1850, when the old watering place herein called "Budmouth" still retained sufficient afterglow from its Georgian gaiety and prestige to lend it an absorbing attractiveness to the romantic and imaginative soul of a lonely dweller inland.

Under the general name of "Egdon Heath, " which has been given to the sombre scene of the story, are united or typified heaths of various real names, to the number of at least a dozen; these being virtually one in character and aspect, though their original unity, or partial unity, is now somewhat disguised by intrusive strips and slices brought under the plough with varying degrees of success, or planted to woodland.

It is pleasant to dream that some spot in the extensive tract whose southwestern quarter is here described, may be the heath of that traditionary King of Wessex-Lear.

"To sorrow

I bade good morrow,

And thought to leave her far away behind;

But cheerly, cheerly,

She loves me dearly;

She is so constant to me, and so kind.

I would deceive her,

And so leave her,

But ah! she is so constant and so kind."

The Return of the Native

Thomas Hardy's first literary masterpiece, Far From the Madding Crowd is the story of free-spirited Bathsheba Everdene, whose bold independence attracts the attention of three suitors: the frugal shepherd Gabriel Oak, the lonely farmer William Boldwood, and the dashing young soldier Sergeant Francis Troy. Each man unsettles Bathsheba's life in some way, complicating her ideas of courtship and passion, and threatening to upset her quiet community. Published in 1874, Far From the Madding Crowd is the first of Thomas Hardy's novels to be set in fictional "Wessex" and with its rich descriptions of rural life and landscapes, the novel firmly established Hardy as a popular novelist. Far From the Madding Crowd ranked tenth on the Guardian's list of greatest love stories of all time, and was adapted for film by the BBC in 2008. HarperPerennialClassics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperPerennial Classics collection to build your digital library.

Far From The Madding Crowd

On an evening in the latter part of May a middle-aged man was walking homeward from Shaston to the village of Marlott, in the adjoining Vale of Blakemore, or Blackmoor. The pair of legs that carried him were rickety, and there was a bias in his gait which inclined him somewhat to the left of a straight line. He occasionally gave a smart nod, as if in confirmation of some opinion, though he was not thinking of anything in particular. An empty egg-basket was slung upon his arm, the nap of his hat was ruffled, a patch being quite worn away at its brim where his thumb came in taking it off. Presently he was met by an elderly parson astride on a gray mare, who, as he rode, hummed a wandering tune.

"Good night t'ee, " said the man with the basket.

"Good night, Sir John, " said the parson.

The pedestrian, after another pace or two, halted, and turned round.

"Now, sir, begging your pardon; we met last market-day on this road about this time, and I said 'Good night, ' and you made reply 'Good night, Sir John, ' as now."

"I did, " said the parson.

"And once before that-near a month ago."

"I may have."

"Then what might your meaning be in calling me 'Sir John' these different times, when I be plain Jack Durbeyfield, the haggler?"

The parson rode a step or two nearer.

"It was only my whim, " he said; and, after a moment's hesitation: "It was on account of a discovery I made some little time ago, whilst I was hunting up pedigrees for the new county history. I am Parson Tringham, the antiquary, of Stagfoot Lane. Don't you really know, Durbeyfield, that you are the lineal representative of the ancient and knightly family of the d'Urbervilles, who derive their descent from Sir Pagan d'Urberville, that renowned knight who came from Normandy with William the Conqueror, as appears by Battle Abbey Roll?"

"Never heard it before, sir!"

Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman

Avec ces neufs récits à la saveur douce-amère, Thomas Hardy, l'auteur de Tess d'Urberville et de Jude l'Obscur, explore les relations de couple, ses secrets et ses pièges. Il fait l'inventaire des déceptions, des cruautés et des quelques plaisirs, l'inventaire des ironies de quelques petites vies.

Les petites ironies de la vie

Angleterre, vers 1780. Le jeune Lord Uplandtowers a décidé de séduire Barbara, jeune fille de la noblesse locale, mais celle-ci lui préfère Edmond, fils d'un maître verrier. Le couple s'enfuit. Après une brouille temporaire due au scandale de cette mésalliance, ses parents pardonnent à Barbara, à condition qu'Edmond parte achever son éducation en France et en Italie.
Au cours de cette longue absence, la jeune femme apprend que son mari a été grièvement brûlé dans un incendie. Quand il revient enfin, son visage est dissimulé par un masque, mais Barbara ne supporte pas la vue de ses traits, une fois le masque ôté : Edmond la quitte, décidé à lui rendre sa liberté.
Le cours de sa vie change alors. Confrontée à un remords qui la ronge, à la vengeance atroce de son deuxième mari, son esprit commence à s'égarer...

L'homme masqué

La Belle Lady Viviette et Swithin, un jeune astronome sont follement amoureux. Mais s'il y a des unions écrites dans les étoiles, celle-ci est contrecarrée par les déterminismes humains dont Hardy s'est toujours montré le sarcastique et l'ardent détracteur : les inégalités sociales ; les “ironies” de la vie (ici, un vieil oncle misogyne qui fait de sa fortune un objet de chantage) ; la séparation inévitable due aux années, car Swithin est plus jeune que Viviette. La toile de fond n'est pas la lande si chère à Hardy, mais le contraste entre la pure voie lactée et le cheminement tourmenté des hommes. Toutes les vexations à l'œuvre contre l'épanouissement des sentiments sont ici impitoyablement captées mais aussi le défi, l’obstination, la générosité courageuse propres aux héroïnes féminines de Hardy, telles Tess.

À la lumière des étoiles

Les Petites ironies de la vie. (précédé de) Une Femme imaginative

Thomas Hardy's final literary masterpiece, Jude the Obscure is the story of Jude Fawley, a poor stonemason living in rural Wessex, whose dreams of becoming a scholar are complicated by an ill-fated romance with his spirited cousin, Sue Bridehead. Jude and Sue's attempts to defy social conventions for the sake of their love lead to misery, heartache and tragedy. Greatly concerned with the destructive rules of marriage, the novel openly criticizes Victorian society, religion and education, and modern critics hail Jude the Obscure as a pioneering work of feminism and socialist thought. Jude the Obscure scandalised critics upon its publication in 1895, leading to Hardy's decision to only produce poetry and drama for the rest of his writing life. It has been adapted twice for film, and remains one of Hardy's most widely-read novels. HarperPerennialClassics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperPerennial Classics collection to build your digital library.

Tess d'Urberville

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