Tess Of The d'Urbervilles

Set against the backdrop of late Victorian England, the novel explores themes of hypocrisy and social injustice through the life of Tess Durbeyfield, a young woman grappling with her heritage and societal expectations. As she seeks respectability, her relationships with two contrasting men lead to a tragic trajectory reminiscent of Greek drama. Hardy's poignant narrative critiques the double standards of the era, making it a timeless exploration of morality and human suffering, celebrated as one of the best-loved novels in literary history.