An unforgettably powerful tragedy, Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles is one of the great classics of the late nineteenth century. Part of the Macmillan Collector s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket-sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition features illustrations by Sir Hubert von Herkomer and Joseph Syddall, and an afterword by Philip Mallett, editor of the Thomas Hardy Journal. Tess Durbeyfield s father forcibly sends her off to work for the wealthy D Urberville family, hoping to alleviate their poverty and perhaps secure her a marriage to the cruel and manipulative Alec D Urberville. His terrible assault upon her, and the subsequent child, form the terrible heart of Tess s tragic life as family, love and future are taken away from her by the repressive mores of Victorian society.