Following the huge success of the 50 Shades of Grey series, Waterstones has seen a threefold increase of sales of another novel: Thomas Hardy’s classic “Tess of the d’Urbervilles”. This is altogether unsurprising seeing as the 50 Shades protagonist Ana is said to have been studying the novel and many references to Tess are scattered across the book like breadcrumbs. It’s true that, like 50 Shades, Tess of the d’Urbervilles was considered incredibly risqué to its 19th century audience and was initially censored due to its blunt dealing of sexuality. However, those who are expecting Tess to be full of raunchy sex scenes and millionaire boyfriends will be sorely disappointed. In fact, these books are hardly closely connected at all. Tess Durbeyfield is a young innocent Wessex girl who, believing she is distantly related to a well-to-do family, the d’Urbervilles, finds employment in their house as a poultry-maid. There she is introduced to Alec d’Urberville, a libertine who harasses her. Tess is unaware of her dangerous situation and one day Alec takes advantage of her, raping her and thereby ruining Tess’ chances of true future happiness. This is a tragic tale of the injustice faced by women in society – a frank dealing of Victorian double-standards. E.L. James attempts to find parallels between Tess’ victimisation and Anastasia’s subordination to Christian’s advances. Those with a more thorough knowledge of Hardy’s classic will agree that she is completely unsuccessful. Fans of the 50 Shades of Grey series will find the Marquis de Sade’s “The Crimes of Love” a more satisfying and relevant read.
Review by Mailee Osten-Tan. Both 50 Shades of Grey and Tess of the d’Urbevilles are available to purchase in Exeter’s Waterstones store as well as online
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