Tess Of The d’Urbervilles - BBC 4

Ilovedogs
I remember my first visit to Stonehenge. It was when you could still walk amongst the stones. It felt very evocative to me, thinking of the symbolism of Tess lying on the stone. When we pass Stonehenge now, I always think of Tess.
I said I love it in my first post. I meant it really touched me because it was so emotive. I always think of Hardy even now, when something happens just by pure chance, and then leads to something else happening.
I agree that Hardy had a dark view of life.

I think that’s a tad harsh DrWatson.

‘Sadly Thomas Hardy is one of the most miserable, tedious authors in the English Language, exceptionally fortunate to appear at a time when almost anyone who could string a couple of vaguely credible sentences together might get published.’

For Hardy, novels were purely a means of generating income, he actually disliked writing books, maybe that’s the issue. His true passion and great talent lay in poetry, which I still recall vividly and with great pleasure since studying his poetry in A level.

madalene

Me too *Ilovedogs. *

Good to know Madalene, The book, the film are so utterly heartbreakingly and I'm certain it's an awful reality for many poor young women around the globe. My heart still breaks for Tess & her baby, even after all these years! 🤔

I couldn't stand it either.

Me too Ilovedogs.

I found Tess of the D'urbervilles absolutely heartbreaking! I studied at A'level & it still resonates. The story is still pertinant today to some extent. 😒

Yes. Very joyless. Did Tess at uni. It almost drove over the edge and was one of the few books that I ever threw away. As for Far From the Maddinf Crowd … Sergeant Troy had the right idea and buggered off to the circus .

Yes indeed! Glad it’s not just me. And that thought about anyone who could string two words together at that time could get published - well said

DrWatson, you've summed him up perfectly. I recall dumping Tess half way through, even though I was supposed to read for my English course.

Yes, Jude was on last night (Thurs) too. Sadly Thomas Hardy is one of the most miserable, tedious authors in the English Language, exceptionally fortunate to appear at a time when almost anyone who could string a couple of vaguely credible sentences together might get published.

I recall having to waste a year of Eng Lit lessons when we had to study Far From The Madding Crowd, a novel I also mostly slept through a couple of years later when it appeared in film form, even Julie Christie's charms or those of Alan Bates couldn't enliven it enough. I see an IMDB review now says :- "does not shy away from Hardy's bleak view of existence". Well, if in any doubt readers, DO shy away!

I’ll def have a look. Thank you.

Loved that book! English Read it and Mayor of Casterbridge for English when I was 15 ! Also read Jane Eyre that year. Loved that too.

I saw parts one and two this week but can't find parts three and four in future listings. I hope I haven't missed them as our I player is not loading properly.

‘Madelene* two episodes were on late last night but it will be on the BBCiplayer.

Thanks for that, at last something worth watching

When’s it on Jane?
I love Tess of the D’Urbervilles. I’ve seen it several times before, not sure if I’ve seen this version.