# Tess of the d’Urbervilles — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy.

- [Explanatory Note to the First Edition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/explanatory-note-to-the-first-edition.md): Thomas Hardy explains the publication history of the novel, which appeared in serialized form in The Graphic, Fortnightly Review, and National Observer, and is now presented complete as originally written. He defends the
- [Epigraph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/epigraph.md): The epigraph quotes Shakespeare, suggesting a theme of sheltering a wounded or dishonored name, foreshadowing Tess's plight.
- [Tess of the d'Urbervilles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/tess-of-the-d-urbervilles.md): The opening of the novel introduces Tess Durbeyfield, a young woman from a poor rural family, whose father learns of their noble ancestry. This discovery sets in motion a series of events that lead Tess to seek out the w
- [Phase the First: The Maiden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/phase-the-first-the-maiden.md): The Durbeyfield family learns of their noble ancestry, leading Tess to visit the d'Urberville estate where she meets Alec. After a series of events, Alec seduces Tess, and she returns home pregnant. The chapter ends with
- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/i.md): John Durbeyfield, a humble haggler, learns from Parson Tringham that he is the last lineal descendant of the ancient and noble d'Urberville family. Elated by the news, he adopts the title 'Sir John' and sends a boy to or

> 63 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se_1809kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/ii.md)
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/iii.md)
- [The Ruin of Prince](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/iv.md)
- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/v.md)
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/vi.md)
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/vii.md)
- [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/viii.md)
- [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/ix.md)
- [The Chaseborough Fair and the Flight with Alec](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/x.md)
- [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xi.md)
- [Phase the Second: Maiden No More](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/phase-the-second-maiden-no-more.md)
- [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xii.md)
- [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xiii.md)
- [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xiv.md)
- [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xv.md)
- [Phase the Third: The Rally](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/phase-the-third-the-rally.md)
- [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xvi.md)
- [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xvii.md)
- [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xviii.md)
- [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xix.md)
- [Phase the Third: The Rally — Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xx.md)
- [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxi.md)
- [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxii.md)
- [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxiii.md)
- [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxiv.md)
- [Phase the Fourth: The Consequence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/phase-the-fourth-the-consequence.md)
- [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxv.md)
- [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxvi.md)
- [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxvii.md)
- [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxviii.md)
- [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxix.md)
- [The Milkmaid's Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxx.md)
- [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxi.md)
- [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxii.md)
- [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxiii.md)
- [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxiv.md)
- [Phase the Fifth: The Woman Pays](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/phase-the-fifth-the-woman-pays.md)
- [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxv.md)
- [Chapter XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxvi.md)
- [XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxvii.md)
- [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxviii.md)
- [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxix.md)
- [XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xl.md)
- [XLI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xli.md)
- [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xlii.md)
- [XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xliii.md)
- [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xliv.md)
- [Phase the Sixth: The Convert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/phase-the-sixth-the-convert.md)
- [XLV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xlv.md)
- [XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xlvi.md)
- [XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xlvii.md)
- [XLVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xlviii.md)
- [XLIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xlix.md)
- [L](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/l.md)
- [LI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/li.md)
- [LII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/lii.md)
- [LIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/liii.md)
- [LIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/liv.md)
- [LV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/lv.md)
- [LVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/lvi.md)
- [LVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/lvii.md)
- [LVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/lviii.md)
- [LIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/lix.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters