Tess of the D'urbervilles

Little treasures, the FLAME TREE COLLECTABLE CLASSICS are chosen to create a delightful and timeless home library. Each stunning, gift edition features deluxe cover treatments, ribbon markers, luxury endpapers and gilded edges. The unabridged text is accompanied by a Glossary of Victorian and Literary terms produced for the modern reader.

Widely considered to be Thomas Hardy’s greatest work, Tess of the d’Urbervilles was first published in serialised form in 1891 and then published as a single volume one year later in 1892. During this time, it received mixed reviews from critics who believed it to be immoral. It is now loved worldwide and has been adapted into plays, operas and many different films and television programmes. The story of Tess Durbeyfield and her search for fortune is a moving look into a Victorian world that we have left behind, and still stands as a gripping story for contemporary readers.

Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) was an English novelist and poet. Despite writing numerous successful novels in his lifetime Hardy primarily considered himself a poet. His first poetry collection was not published until 1898, however before this he received praise and some fame for novels including Far from the Madding Crowd (1874), The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886) and Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1891). Hardy’s writing was greatly influenced by the Romantics, and in turn he was mentor to many young poets and was cited as an influence on Ezra Pound and W.H. Auden after his death.

Judith John (glossary) is a writer and editor specializing in literature and history. She has worked as an editor on major educational projects, including English A: Literature for the Pearson International Baccalaureate series. Judith’s major research interests include Romantic and Gothic literature, and Renaissance drama.