Tess of the DâUrbervilles tells the story of Tess Durbeyfield, forced by her familyâs poverty to claim kinship with the wealthy DâUrbervilles. Violated by the son, Alec, her hopes of rebuilding her life with the gentle and bookish Angel Clare founder when he learns of her past. Set among the lush pastures and bleak uplands of Hardyâs imagined Wessex, and filled with unforgettable images of tenderness and tragedy, the story examines conventional morality through Tess herself, one of the best-loved characters in English literature.