Welcome back to The Invisible College, my series of literature courses for paid subscribers. The introduction to and schedule for the 2026 season is here. The 2024 and 2025 archives are here. This episode, of which the first 10 minutes are free, is about Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles. We consider Hardy’s unique status as great novelist and great poet and his role as transitional figure between Victorian and modernist; we discuss common criticisms of his fiction, rehearse his biography, and broach his views on literature. Then we examine the contradictory views of nature and society offered by his most famous novel, paying special attention to the mythic roots of his modern tragedy, or his reinvention of the ancient rite of tragedy to renew its purpose in modern times. Please like, share, comment, and subscribe! The slideshow corresponding to the episode can be downloaded behind the paywall:
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