Summary:IntheVictorianperiod,aruralclergymaninEnglandtellsDurbeyfield,asimplefarmer,thatheisdescendedfromtheillustriousd'Urbervillefamily,nowextinct;ormaybenot.DurbeyfieldsendshisdaughterTesstocheckonafamilynamedd'Urbervillelivinginamanorhouselessthanaday'scarriagerideaway.Alecd'Urbervilleisdelightedtomeethisbeautifulcousin,andheseducesherwithstrawberriesandroses.ButAlecisnorelationtoTess;hehasgottenhisillustriousnameandcoatofarmsbypurchasingthem.AlecfallsinlovewithTess,seduces/rapesher,andsheleaves,pregnant;backathome,thebabydies.Sometimelater,Tessbeginsworkasamilkmaid,andthereshemeetshertrueloveAngelClare.Angelbelieveshercompletelyinnocent.Theyfallinlove,butAngeldoesnotlearnofherpreviousrelationshipwithAlecuntiltheirweddingnight,andrejectsher.Desertedbyherhusband,TessmeetsAlecagain,andpovertyforceshertoresumetheirrelationship.Angelreturnsfromtravellingabroad,remorsefulathistreatmentofTess,butfindsherwithAlec.TessmurdersAlecinordertorunawaywithAngel.Theyspendonenightofhappinesstogether,beforesheisarrested.