Tess of the D'Urbervilles, a brilliant tale of seduction, love, betrayal and murder, is generally regarded as Thomas Hardy's finest novel. This is a tragic story of the intelligent, charming and naturally dignified Tess. Daughter of a poor villager, John Durbeyfield, whose head is turned by hearing that they have descended from the ancient Norman family of D'Urbervilles. He and his wife encourage Tess to seek the kinship of the parvenu Stoke D'Urbervilles, themselves not entitled to the noble name. She is reluctant to go, but finally agrees with the hope to improve the plight of her struggling family. She is seduced by Alec D'Urbervilles, the son of her benefactors and gives birth to his child who dies in infancy. Thus starts the tale of misfortunes of the sixteen-year old Tess.Tess is Hardy's most striking and tragic heroine and the character that meant most to him.