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  • Tess of the D'Urbervilles

  • By: Thomas Hardy
  • Narrated by: Peter Firth
  • Length: 14 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (79 ratings)

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Tess of the D'Urbervilles

By: Thomas Hardy
Narrated by: Peter Firth
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Publisher's Summary

Exclusively from Audible

When John Durbeyfield discovers a family connection to the ancient Norman family, the D'Urbervilles, the fate of daughter Tess is transformed.

Sent by her ambitious parents to visit her wealthy D'Urberville cousins, Tess attracts the attention of the unscrupulous Alec. Seduced and discarded by him and alone in the world, she finds work as a milkmaid and the love of Angel Clare. Yet his love cannot accept the truth about Tess's past.

Considered Hardy's masterwork it presents a major departure from conventional Victorian fiction, causing controversy and mixed reviews on first publication due to it challenging Victorian sexual morals. The work was subtitled 'A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented' as Hardy felt that its heroine was a virtuous victim of a rigid Victorian moral code.

Hardy considered it his finest book and due to his enlightened and forward thinking, the story has captivated audiences since it was first released.

Thomas Hardy was an English writer and poet in the Romantic era who was greatly influenced by Charles Dickens and William Wordsworth.

Narrator Biography

Having started his career as a leading child actor, Peter Firth received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in Peter Shaffer's play Equus (1973) at only 21. He later starred with Richard Burton in its film adaption earning him a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and an Academy Award nomination. His other film work has included roles in Pearl Harbor (2001) and The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005). He is best known for his role as Sir Harry Pearce in the BBC show Spooks (2002-2011) appearing in every episode of the show's 10 series. Recent roles have included Jacob Marley in the BBC's Dickensian series (2015) and Ernest Augustus in ITV's drama series Victoria (2016). He has narrated several audiobooks and starred in Audible's multicast drama Amok.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Tess of the D'Urbervilles

Average Customer Ratings
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Very Powerful

A dark exploration into the double standards around women in Victorian England. There is a pastoral interlinking between character and ideas that add incredible richness to the text. Well presented and narrated throughout.

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Timeless

It was my first time reading this classic and how glad I am that I did. I raged at the injustice of it all and thought, with feeling, how women have suffered through the ages, at the hands of thoughtless men. Ironically, I started reading this book on Women’s Day!
Tess personifies strength, determination and tenacity. I am so thankful to have known her and she will forever join those honoured female characters who are so beloved: Elizabeth Bennett, Jane Eyre and Tess D’Urberville

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Great reading of great work

Magnificent performance of a tragic but compelling tale. Beautifully written and timeless. I can now see why Hardy is one of the great authors.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Melancholia personified

Despite trying to keep in mind the era in which the story is written, for me tedium set in early in the piece. I persisted with it, hoping for some light and shade and desperate to discover a spark of something in Tess' character other than perpetual melancholia. Firth's narration is beautifully paced, but his portrayl of Tess didn't quite work for me.

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A bad luck story

Good narration with good pronunciation of accents. Tess is a bit pathetic-can any man be as attractive to a woman as is Angel Clare? But Hardy brings out the suffocating effect of social conventions, which he does even more so in Jude the obscure, which I prefer. Good plot.

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An epic tale

An epic tale of love, loss, and heartbreak. Any lover of the classics should read this. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

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I love T ❤

loved it ... Wish I knew you great book the narrator absolutely fabulous kept me interested 😊

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loved this one.

I loved this book for do many reasons and how up and down it is very sad and also not.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Surprised by this Hardy classic

I love Thomas Hardy - but this book just wasn’t the same good writing as Mayor of Casterbridge or The Woodlanders.

I tried to hang in there as long as I could but I drifted away like the morning frost on the fields.

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Great reading

I’ll definitely buy more books by this reader. Great reading. Enjoyed it a lot thanks

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