Studying Tess of the D’Urbervilles: The Complete Text and Revision Guide

A helpful package for A level (or GCSE) students that prefaces a reading of the full text with critical discussions and commentary. Some of it is standard (but necessary) character stuff but it's especially helpful that there's an extensive section of key quotations which allow the student to think about these for themselves without being told why they're significant.

The overall take on the novel sees it through contemporary horizons of non-consent, identity, class and the representation of women. A thoughtful adjunct to reading the novel which helps focus on the complexities of the book and Hardy's own historicity especially in regard to patriarchy and religion.

I have formerly read Studying The Great Gatsby, also have Wuthering Heights , and the one fault I find with all of them is that the summary of the entire story is in the first track. Whilst the summaries are good, and quite useful for students and those for whom English is a second language, I do think the audio would be much better at the end after all the other parts have been read in the original text.

However the reader is in fine form and enjoyable to listen to.