Welsh villagers--coal mines all closed--decides to breed a horse. Dream Alliance. Against all odds, the horse has some success, winning the Wales Grand National. The horse suffers an injury, is nearly put down, but returns to race again. Doesn't win anything, but still alive, and still a source of pride for the village. Nice story, David and Goliath, with a small victory for David. Also a class warfare tale. The Welsh villagers taking on the superwealthy of the racing world and holding their own.
"To all humankind, Tess was only a passing thought. Even to friends, she was only a frequently passing thought." Angel Clare is a good character. He's "enlightened," in so many ways, but when Tess's confesses her "crime," he reverts to ancestral form . . . Tess's "confession" comes earlier than I expected, right after Angel reveals that he has had a bad moment with a woman. Tess points out the similarity in their transgressions, though his is the only true transgression, expecting forgiveness. She doesn't get it. She returns to her mother . . . realizes she can't stay with her. Thoughts to suicide. Unhappiness that divorce is not possible. Departs. Tragic in that the two, if Angel could just see clearly, would indeed be a great couple, each adding to the other. Nature as a definite force involved in the tragedy. It's not neutral--when things go bad, the very skies mock Tess. Tess as unaware of the power of her bea...
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