Tess Uncensored: Thomas Hardy and the Ache of Modernism

Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy’s 1891 novel, was rejected on moral grounds by three publishers before appearing in censored form. Hardy reveals a pastoral world contending with the advance of the machine age. Our class will discuss Tess and the issues of morality, identity, and class status that Hardy illuminates. We will examine the originally-censored passages and enjoy the rich narrative fabric of a novel that, filmed over a dozen times, remains engaging to today’s audiences.