Tess of the D'Urbervilles (From Swindon Advertiser)

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

7:10am Monday 19th January 2009

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SOMEHOW I managed to avoid reading Tess of the D'Urbervilles while I was at school. It also never came up on a reading list while I was studying A-level English Literature.

And in a way I'm glad - because I don't think I would have enjoyed this book half as much if I had been forced to read it as part of a course and had to dissect every word and phrase put on the page by Hardy.

The story centres on Tess Durbeyfield, whose father finds out he is a descendant of the great D'Urberville family and the trouble that follows Tess after to goes to claim kin at the family's home in a nearby town.

She becomes the object of desire for Alec D'Urberville, who refuses to accept no as answer and hounds her constantly.

Thinking she has escaped she meets and falls in love with Angel Clare. Now, before reading the book I admitted to my friend how I was in love with Angel and I was berated for it.

Having read the book I have to say that I still am. Yes alright, he has his faults - but what man doesn't? He might be slightly misguided but in my eyes his heart is in the right place and he realises the fault in his actions - maybe a bit too late but still, he realises.

There are two things that really stood out for me in this novel. The first was how much trudging Tess does. It's an awful lot. The friend who bearated me over Mr Clare said that whenever she is out in the countryside walking and the weather is dismal she thinks of Tess.

Secondly, the novel points out that we all celebrate birthdays and anniversaries but the one day that passes us by every year, without us knowing, is the date of our death. That will always stick in my memory.

If you haven't read this classic yet I urge you to pick it up - male or female I promise you will love it.

Right then, now I've been bitten by the reading bug again, it's time to decide what to read next.