Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was an English poet and novelist who initially trained and showed promise as an architect. His third published novel, Far from the Madding Crowd, was successful enough that he was able to devote himself to writing. Hardy's work displays a concern that the conventions of Victorian society were damaging to many and an empathy toward those it made suffer. His richly drawn characters, in novels like Jude the Obscure, The Mayor of Casterbridge and Tess of the d'Urbervilles, engage in a timeless striving for happiness and a chance to rise above a world that offers implacable barriers to their hopes.

Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy tells of Tess Durbeyfield, raised in impoverished circumstances in rural England. Often regarded as the author's most compelling character, Tess's struggles to better her circumstances in the face of a rigid, judgmental society, and find love with an unforgettably challenging suitor, lead to a powerful and tragic conclusion.