First serialized in the British newspaper The Graphic in 1891, Tess of the D'Urbervilles was published in book form in 1892. Set in Wessex, it is the story of Tess Durbeyfield, a young woman from a peasant family, whose father believes that she can claim kinship with the wealthy D’Urbervilles and gain a portion of their fortune. Instead it leads to a violent sexual encounter that changes her life. The novel follows Tess on her journey all the way to the tragic end, while at the same time making one question the morals of late Victorian England. Over the years, the novel has been adapted extensively for film, television and theatre.
