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Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urbervilles

Tess as poor, ignorant, young, innocent, with a good heart beginning the voyage of life . . . Early dance where a stranger (who will play a large part later on) doesn't dance with her . . . Her father enamored of the possible nobility of the Durbeyfields . . .Tess good to her siblings . . . Tess brings hives to market . . . disaster, her horse dies . . . She goes to the d'Urbervilles for help for her family and is hired to look after fowl.  Alec, young rake, has his eye on her . . . Fair and market day--amazing writing . . . She watches the dance, wanting to go home, but Hardy describes the joy of the beaten-down peasants at this freedom  . . . finally they leave . . . there is an altercation . . . Tess is rescued by Alec . . . Night descriptions are incredible, just as the dance descriptions were. . . Tess is left alone by Alec who has gotten them lost to extend his time with her.  He returns, finds her asleep, and rapes her.  Amazing chapter, blending of innocent joy and calculating evil.

Tess leaves, gives birth to a little baby boy who dies, and then goes on the be a milk maid.  She meets again with the man who didn't dance with her, Angel Clare.

Great description of the bunch of milk maids going out to root out all trace of garlic.
Just one passage of the many, many gorgeous nature descriptions:  "Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before, the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings had not darkened because of her grief, nor sickened because of her pain."

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