The publication of "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" in 1891 generated both controversy and mixed reviews. Featuring a disgraced woman as the heroine, the tragic novel elicited reactions that ranged from "an unpleasant novel told in a very unpleasant way ("The Saturday Review") to "Hardy's best novel yet" ("The Atlantic Monthly"). "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" has since come to be considered a masterpiece of English literature, sparking numerous film and...

Includes a brief biography of the author, thematic and structural analysis of the work, critical views, and an index of themes and ideas.