Tess of the D'Ubervilles

by Harold Bloom

-- Presents the most important 20th-century criticism on major works from The Odyssey through modern literature
-- The critical essays reflect a variety of schools of criticism
-- Contains critical biographies, notes on the contributing critics, a chronology of the author's life, and an index

Genres: Classics

Paperback

Published August 2, 1999

About the author

Harold Bloom was an American literary critic and the Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale University. In 2017, Bloom was called "probably the most famous literary critic in the English-speaking world." After publishing his first book in 1959, Bloom wrote more than 50 books, including over 40 books of literary criticism, several books discussing religion, and one novel. He edited hundreds of anthologies concerning numerous literary and philosophical figures for the Chelsea House publishing firm. Bloom's books have been translated into more than 40 languages. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1995.
Bloom was a defender of the traditional Western canon at a time when literature departments were focusing on what he derided as the "school of resentment" (multiculturalists, feminists, Marxists, and others). He was educated at Yale University, the University of Cambridge, and Cornell University.

Reviews

[Tabita C · Rating 5 out of 5]

O carte care te ține prezent. Mereu. Cu fiecare pas al protagonistei. Atât de tristă, atât de captivantă, totuși. Cu imagini atât de realiste...
M-a făcut să trăiesc acolo, alături de Tess, în zbuciumările ei, în neștiința ei, în mustrările ei, în vinovăție, în iubire, în lupta dintre a spune adevărul și a trăi în minciună...
O carte ce te face să meditezi la multe lucruri.
Cine le spune fetelor ca Tess că nu ele sunt de vină? Că nu ele trebuie să fie pedepsite pentru nesocotința altora?... Că pot avea o viață mai bună?... Cine le învață să se ferească de anumite circumstanțe și oameni? Cine?!...
Mi-a părut rău după ea, ca și cum aș fi cunoscut-o. Nu ca după un personaj fictiv. Ci ca după o ființă umană.
Un roman atât de dureros și, din păcate, atât de sincer...

[Sara Hosey · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a classic and there was much to love here. It's an important reminder of how some things have changed (for the better), but also of how, sadly, a lot of double-standards and hypocrisies remain.

[Patty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this a part of a reading challenge. Glad I have it off my list.

[Kathy Weyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got about halfway through this when I just got tired. I mean, how much can one woman endure?

[Madelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This old classic was a somewhat familiar story but difficult to read with many words unfamiliar to me and a dialogue that was sometimes difficult to follow.

[Jenna Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favorites besides the fact that I can hardly pronounce the title

[Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why do I torture myself by reading Victorian novels?

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most beautiful story, but so so sad.