Tess of the d’Urbervilles premieres on Sunday’s Masterpiece Classic

Gemma Arterton stars as Tess, in Tess of the d'Urbervilles (2007)

Masterpiece Classic fans will be happy to know that the new season begins on Sunday, January 4th at 9:00 pm EST with a new adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s novel, Tess of the d’Urbevilles on PBS. Gemma Arterton (Elizabeth Bennet in Lost in Austen) stars as the beautiful low born heroine Tess Durbeyfield, whose struggling family pushes her on wealthy distant relations the d’Urbervilles to seek employment. There she meets the handsome heir, Alec d’Urberville (Hans Matheson) whose dalliances with her affection turn to abuse, tragically changing her life. When she meets Angel Clare (Eddie Redmayne), will Tess be able to leave behind her dark past and find enduring love?

Tess of the d’Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented was published in 1891 after several rejections by publishers uncomfortable with the controversial subject challenging the sexual morals of Hardy’s times. Today, its is viewed as a classic, but its theme of innocence spoiled and driven to murder by the errant ruling class received mixed reception by critics and the public. Unlike other Victorian authors Charlotte Bronte and Mark Twain, Thomas Hardy admired Jane Austen and enjoyed reading her novels with his wife in his later years feeling an affinity to her character Mr. Woodhouse from Emma. Interestingly, a new biography of his life entitled Thomas Hardy was written by Claire Tomalin, who gave us the excellent biography Jane Austen : A Life in 1997, which remains one of the most enjoyable biographies in my library.

Actress Laura Linney makes her first appearance as the new host of Masterpiece Classic adding polish and sophistication to the introduction to this heart wrenching classic story of a young woman’s struggles to find her way in the class driven society of late Victorian England.

Visit the Tess of the d’Urbervilles web site at Masterpiece Classic online for a complete synopsis of the story, character descriptions, information on the filming locations and a preview.


Source: austenprose.wordpress.com