Chapter 10 - In which Tess has settled in to her new job at the fowl house and is now able to participate in the countryfolk's propensity to revel of a Saturday night and to enjoy the company of her peers before an incident occurs that has her once again bearing the company of Alec D'Urberville.
Chapter 9 - In which Tess makes the acquaintance of not only the birds she is now repsonsibile for, but also of the lady of the house, Mrs. D'Urberville.
Chapter 8 - In which Tess rides with Alec D'Urberville to her new situation and has grave doubts about her newly found connection to her so called kinsman.
Chapter 7 - In which Tess makes ready for her journey to the Stoke-D'Urbervilles and her new position working for them. Her mother conitnues to enthuse over the prospects this might intend, and the family bid farewell as her new adventure begins.
Chapter 6 - In which plans are discussed regarding Tess's invitation to take up a position with the Stoke-D'Urbervilles as a manager of their poultry farm. Mrs Durbeyfield is keen to see her daughter take up the offer, Tess not so much.
Chapter 5 - In which Tess agrees to go along with her mother's project given the guilt she feels over the dead horse. This leads to a somewhat reluctant journey and experience in unfamiliar surroundings.
Chapter 4 - The locals hear about the Durbeyfield's new found ancestry over a pleasant drink in the upper room of the local off-license. It falls to Tess to take the beehives to market
Chapter 3 - Tess chooses to leave her revelry in the fields to return to her home in the village where we meet some members of her family.
Chapter 2 - After setting the countryside scene of our story, we are introduced to our main protagonist and her companions in their traditional walking club and some new characters make their entrance.
Thomas Hardy added a number of prefaces to his novel over the period from first publication until his final comments in 1912. These are followed by the first chapter in this classic novel
Thanks for being patient while my wife and I took a well needed trip to Europe, where we were able to see family and friends we hadn't seen for 2 years. Inspired by some days in a beautiful part of England that features in my next reading and one teenage vacation when I read this author's complete works of fiction, I have decided to give you Thomas Hardy's novel 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have and I look forward to starting with Chapter 1 in the next few da...
The Greatness of Dickens. A bonus episode and epilogue to the narration of David Copperfield examining the excellence of Charles Dickens as a writer and his impact on social conditions during his lifetime. Enjoy.
Chapter 64 - A Last Retrospect. In which David reflects on his life and the many personalities and events that have transpired since he began his journey from the inauspicious beginnings of his birth and the trials and triumphs that he encountered along the way.
Chapter 63 - A Visitor. In which David has a very unexpected encounter with yet another of his past acquaintances and learns a good deal of the fortunes of some of his childhood friends.
Chapter 62 - A Light Shines On My Way. In which David has an interesting discourse with his aunt and then something begins to happent that will bring light to the future of our protagonist.
Chapter 61 - I Am Shown Two Interesting Penitents. In which David is re-aquainted with 2 of the characters we have already met and who now find themselves in altered circumstances.
Chapter 60 - Agnes. In which David once again turns his attention to one of the people still left behind from his life and story. He ponders what might have beem and wonders about the future.
Chapter 59 - The Return. In which David returns (surprise!) and re-makes his acquaintaince with some old friends and people from his past.
Chapter 58 - Absence. In which we hear of David's time away and his thoughts on his life so far.
Chapter 57 - The Emigrants. In which David and Traddles spend some time with the Micawbers and family as they prepare for their long journey abroad.
Chapter 56 - The New Wound and The Old. In which David deals with the aftermath of the tempest and pays a visit to his friend's mother to announce the sad news of the night's events.
Chapter 55 - Tempest. In which a singularly violent night of storms heralds devastating consequences for David and many of his fellow protagonists.
Chapter 54 - Mr Micawber's Transactions. In which many matters are resolved both financially and personally. The scene is set for the unfolding of David's future.
Chapter 53 - Another Retrospect. In which, as the title suggests, time has moved on in our story and David looks back on key moments that have brought him to this point
Chapter 52 - I Assist At an Explosion. In which a dramatic encounter happens in the offices of Wickfield and Heep involving many of the main protagonists and resulting in a satsifactory conclusion, especially for one of the families involved.
Chapter 51 - The Beginning of A Longer Journey. In which we hear stories relayed by Mr Peggoty concerning the events surrounding little Emly's return to London.
Chapter 50 - Mr Peggoty's Dream Comes True. In which the title of the chapter says it all!
Chapter 49 - I Am Involved In Mystery. In which letters are read and once again attention is on David's old friends the Micawbers!
Chapter 48 - Domestic. In which we hear more of David and Dora's domestic arrangements and David's attempts to from work on his child-wife's mind.
Chapter 47 - Martha. In which a meeting reveals a little more of the mystery surrounding Little Emily's disappearance and a secret of David's aunt is exposed. '
