This Paperback Book item from W. W. Norton was reviewed on 3-Nov-2008.
Search ISBN:0393959031 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Norton Critical Editions) Reference Book. Classifications : General AAS Literature Humanities New & Used Textbooks Custom Stores Specialty Stores Books General AAS New & Used Textbooks Custom Stores Specialty Stores Books General AAS Qualifying Textbooks Custo . Click the following link to view the cover of Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Norton Critical Editions). Related topics: General AAS. Literature. Humanities. Custom Stores. Specialty Stores. Books. General AAS. Custom Stores. Specialty Stores. Books. requestid: 24b8a441-2a3b-4a88-bbbb-df4408093656
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1) Paperback Book Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Norton Critical Editions) by W. W. Norton. The story is well known; one can choose from many editions or printings. If given the choice, choose Norton Critical Editions for the classics.
This edition includes factual background provided by Hardy´s pre-eminent biographer, Michael Millgate, who opines on the "originals of, and models for, Tess Durbeyfield." Absolutely fascinating.
Critical essays include contemporary criticism: Robert Louis Stevenson panned it; Henry James enjoyed it despite it being "chock-full of faults and falsity."
Virginia Woolf´s six-page essay regarding "Tess" is worth the price of this edition.
But most illuminating is the verbatim interview with Thomas Hardy himself concerning the ending of the story. When asked why he gave "Tess" the ending he did, he answered: "For the simple reason I could not help myself...When I got to the middle of the story the characters took their fates into their own hands, and I literally had no power."
Reading "Tess" without the supplementary material and criticism will leave you having enjoyed a most wonderful buffet but having missed out on the dessert.
One will also get so much more enjoyment from "Tess" if one reads either Millgate´s or Martin Seymour-Smith´s biography of Thomas Hardy. I prefer the latter.
¤ 2) Paperback Book Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Norton Critical Editions) by W. W. Norton. The shipper sent an email immediately that they were on vacation so would be cancelling the order. As I did not need the item immediately, I wish they would have just let me know it would be delayed instead of cancelling. I am glad, however, that they let me know. I would try them again. Good communication.
A rating didn´t really apply, but it wouldn´t let me exit without one.¤ 3) Paperback Book Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Norton Critical Editions) by W. W. Norton. I´ve enjoyed reading this edition for its critical essays and helpful footnotes, but the copy I ordered from Amazon was missing thirty pages. (It turns out that pages 14 through 44 are printed twice, resuming at page 77). They may have corrected the problem in other copies, but don´t assume that you´ll get the whole book!¤ 4) Paperback Book Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Norton Critical Editions) by W. W. Norton. Morality is subject to some rolling blackouts in this book. At the end, the law stepped in and made sure that the destruction was mutual. Law seems to be particularly inept in situations where a book is this hard on the reader, and those critics in the Norton Critical Edition who consider this novel almost a crime against literature have a point. If all the characters were being put on trial, instead of merely trying to live, the law would allow each of them to be tried separately because of the doctrine of mutually antagonistic defenses. There were parts of this book I enjoyed: Angel Clare sorting the cows for milking made a lovely theme. Hardy kept referring to the barnyard as a "barton," but I´m sure he wasn´t directing that jibe at me, personally, because this book was written long before I was born. I´ve been to barnyards that were as full of "mulch" as the "barton" described in this book, and Hardy is putting things mildly. I liked the part when Alec had been reformed and Tess discovered him preaching to the Methodists without thinking that he was any better for all the things he was trying to say. Somehow Alec getting on the other side of things was still Alec, and he would have preferred to be happy than to preach all the time. For me, the plot revolved around Angel Clare´s need to find a place where he could get money without shame. Alec had as much money as Tess would ever need, and he wanted to give it to her in his own way. There is an early baby problem that Tess didn´t tell Alec about until they had more problems than any novelist could make disappear. D. H. Lawrence tried to understand this book in unfulfilled male and female principles, and aristocratic principles which isolated Tess and Alec d´Uberville. I´m glad this book has been appreciated so long that I finally read it. It was an involvement that went further than just feeling like a barnyard.¤ 5) Paperback Book Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Norton Critical Editions) by W. W. Norton. I was reading this book for an assignment in English, and the images that it left in my mind will remain there for a long time. The story of Tess, a truly Pure woman, facing adversities that scare the soul out of me, is a thoughtful and saddening one. The Norton Critical edition is particularily good, containing reviews and poems of and about Thomas Hardy, a major advantage when trying to understand the atmosphere that produced this novel. Though the novel is heavy in description, the description is not out of place. In fact, it is essential to the storyline. All in all, I enjoyed this book, and it made me think and reflect on the values that I believe are truly important.¤ Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 1-Dec-2008, 03939590319780393959031, 620-310-920-280-930-050-8 
Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Norton Critical Editions), Book, Image © W. W. Norton
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