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Tess of the D'Urbervilles
- Narrated by: Peter Firth
- Length: 14 hrs and 27 mins
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Tess of the D'Urbervilles
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Summary
Exclusively from Audible
When John Durbeyfield discovers a family connection to the ancient Norman family, the D'Urbervilles, the fate of daughter Tess is transformed.
Sent by her ambitious parents to visit her wealthy D'Urberville cousins, Tess attracts the attention of the unscrupulous Alec. Seduced and discarded by him and alone in the world, she finds work as a milkmaid and the love of Angel Clare. Yet his love cannot accept the truth about Tess's past.
Considered Hardy's masterwork it presents a major departure from conventional Victorian fiction, causing controversy and mixed reviews on first publication due to it challenging Victorian sexual morals. The work was subtitled 'A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented' as Hardy felt that its heroine was a virtuous victim of a rigid Victorian moral code.
Hardy considered it his finest book and due to his enlightened and forward thinking, the story has captivated audiences since it was first released.
Thomas Hardy was an English writer and poet in the Romantic era who was greatly influenced by Charles Dickens and William Wordsworth.
Narrator Biography
Having started his career as a leading child actor, Peter Firth received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in Peter Shaffer's play Equus (1973) at only 21. He later starred with Richard Burton in its film adaption earning him a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and an Academy Award nomination. His other film work has included roles in Pearl Harbor (2001) and The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005). He is best known for his role as Sir Harry Pearce in the BBC show Spooks (2002-2011) appearing in every episode of the show's 10 series. Recent roles have included Jacob Marley in the BBC's Dickensian series (2015) and Ernest Augustus in ITV's drama series Victoria (2016). He has narrated several audiobooks and starred in Audible's multicast drama Amok.
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What listeners say about Tess of the D'Urbervilles
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- birdie
- 20-06-14
Wonderful imagery
What made the experience of listening to Tess of the D'Urbervilles the most enjoyable?
I first read Tess many years ago as a teenager and didn't think much of it. Having revisiting through this audiobook I am astounded at how much I missed! This is one of those reads which benefit from a few years of life experience. Wonderfully read, atmospheric and colourful.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Tess of the D'Urbervilles?
The description of milking: a real feast for the senses. Brought the era to life and the imagery is superb.
What does Peter Firth bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
Well read and very consistent... Believable voices and accents. I am local to this area and found the dialect very believable.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It was very easy to see things through the eyes of the characters and to empathise with them, even given the very different attitudes of the time.
Any additional comments?
Thomas Hardy at his best....Highly recommended.
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12 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amy Rice
- 22-08-15
Beautifully written and carefully narrated
What did you like most about Tess of the D'Urbervilles?
Calm voice makes for easy listening, it takes a while to get into but well worth it!
What other book might you compare Tess of the D'Urbervilles to, and why?
Typical of Victorian Literature, not fast paced but evocative and emotionally compelling.
Which character – as performed by Peter Firth – was your favourite?
Tess and Angel were both magnificent
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
This whole book is indescribably sad and hear trenching, but a beautiful experience to read - and to be read to!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Happy Days
- 27-10-21
Excellent storytelling but incredibly frustrating!!
Thomas Hardy was a great storyteller and I listened to this after listening to The Mayor of Casterbridge. I only gave it 4 stars because I wanted to scream at the heroine on multiple occasions!! That shows I was engaged in the story but I found it frustrating to listen to because of the main characters lack of inner oomph! I know this is a random review but I can’t explain further owing to the fact I would have to reveal major spoilers!! It is definitely worth listening to though.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mary S
- 24-04-19
A heart wrenching tale
Hardy is a master of his art, his prose eloquent and descriptive. The novel, a true classic ,is a story of a young woman, Tess, who is abused by Alex D’Urberville and then left to pick up the pieces. Her saviour, Angel Clare cannot forgive Tess when she tells him on their wedding night of her liaison with D’Urberville which leads to much misery for Tess and Angel. The novel is deeply emotive, leaving the reader with a sense of injustice to the treatment of Tess.
The audio book is well read, I would recommend it to students of Hardy’s work and for those who are not so familiar with his novels.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ali
- 03-10-18
Beautifully presented, emotionally captivating story.
Perfect voice for this story. Beautifully presented. Takes the listener on such an emotional journey with the main character, would definitely recommend as a classic not to be missed.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Andy Bates
- 24-05-22
Excellent narration of a classic
Superb narration brilliantly delivered a classic brought to life and well worth a listen. Definitely a five star
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- JEANNIE
- 11-11-20
Revisited
Read 40 years ago, still rather depressing. Well read, enjoyed the narration. I would recommend.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rob Sedgwick
- 14-01-19
Classic amongst classics
This is one of the greatest works of English literature. It's a simple story in many ways and which most people can relate to but there is so much in this book and it truly is a masterpiece that says so much about how humans treat one another. It's a masterful recording that really brings the main characters to life: Tess, Angel and Alec.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- michelle hardy
- 18-04-18
heart breaking
I love this book. Thomas hardy never disappoints. If you have never listened to or read any of his books start with this one. If you haven't read any classics forget all of the books about match making and how hard it is to find a husband. Read this. Way ahead of its time. This really is one of the best books ever written. Hardy's views on society are brutally honest, you won't feel happy listening to it but you'll be glad you did.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Philippa Dunkley
- 06-09-20
Fantastic listen
Highly recommend as Peter Firth narrates so beautifully. I will look out for more of his narration as it was exemplary.
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