The movie: BBC 2008 v. staring Gemma Arterton, Eddie Redmayne, and Hans Matheson
I read this book in eighth grade at the urging of my English teacher who thought I would enjoy this book above all others he had offered up for students to read and on which to do a report. He couldn’t have been more wrong.
Tess of D’Ubervilles was my first DNF (did not finish) ever. I learned how to speed read with this book. I learned out to read the bare minimum and still understand what was going on in the book.
I suppose it is meant to be one of the greatest love stories ever written but even watching the movie, a much condensed version, acted wonderfully makes me want to find the eight hundred plus page book and hurl it at a wall.
There is so much sadness in this story. Lots of spoilers; in fact I tell the whole story below:
Mr. D’Uberfield finds out he and his family are of noble blood and when things go badly on the farm sends Tess to speak with their rich relatives. Alec D’Ubervilles immediately lusts after her and offers her a position in his family’s home. At first opportunity he rapes her. Tess runs back home, pregnant from the event. The baby dies.
Tess goes off again to work as a dairy maid. There she meets Angel Clare and falls in love. He does too. They marry. He finds out about Alec and the baby and leaves her. For a year perhaps two I’m not quite sure but he stays away in South America.
Meanwhile Alec finds Tess again and pursues her like a dog after a bone. Tess writes to Angel begging his forgiveness and his help. Angel never got the letters but after surviving yellow fever goes back to England determined to find Tess. He searches and searches and follows Tess’ trail until finally he finds her as mistress/wife to the object of her downfall.
Tess tells Angel to go away and never return because she’s already dead. Brokenhearted all over again Tess turns and goes upstairs where after a confrontation with Alec she kills him with a bread knife. From there she runs to Angel’s side and tells him she’s murdered the man that has ruined her/them and now that she has can he forgive her and take her back. They run off together, find an empty home and for the first time he makes love to Tess.
When they are found by a servant they run off again. They stop at Stone Henge. Tess talks about dying. Tess begs him to take care of her family and marry her younger sister. He begs her not to ask this of him. They fall asleep.
Upon waking they are surrounded by law enforcement agents. There is no escape. The story ends Angel and her younger sister wait outside the city where the bell tolls Tess’ execution.
Book: 1 Stars because the story is completely terrible and angst driven. There’s no happiness to be found not even in Tess and Angel’s stolen moments.
Buy Book: Tess of the D'Urbervilles
Buy Audio Version: Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Mini-Series: 4 Stars… the acting, scenery, and script are all perfectly executed. Gemma makes a lovely Tess, you really feel for her. Eddie is perfect as Angel, beautiful, sweet, kind, loving. Alec could not have been betters played by anyone. Hans does a phenomenal job. He’s easy to despise; playing the entitled gentleman who thinks little beyond his own pleasures so adeptly.
Buy Mini-Series: Tess of the d'Urbervilles
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1 Star, 4 Stars, Book Review, Estranged, Farming, G-I, Gentry, Great Britain, Historical Romance, Mistress or Courtesan, Movie Reviews, Pregnant, Rape/Abuse, Rogues and Rakehells, Runaway, Secret Baby, Survival, Virgin Heroine
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3 comments ↓
Aren’t most of Hardy’s stories angst ridden? I have to say watching Masterpeice Theater and their version of Tess made me very weepy and was so tragic.
You’re probably right, this was the only Hardy I’ve read. You really do feel for Tess I agree and it’s definitely a tragic story. As I was telling Becky, Angel is a sweet and loving (fictional) man who was really retardedly stupid and primarily due to his actions ruins their chances at happiness forever… of course if Tess hadn’t killed Alec and had just slipped away with Angel from the hotel all would have been fine too (or after a bit when everything gets sorted out).
I had heard of this book but never really what the story was about. When I happened to see the miniseries listed and watched it. I was horrified and it took me days to get over this very, very sad tragic movie.
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