Opera Vox Audiobooks

Chapter 25 - In which we learn more of the young farmer's apprentice, Angel Clare and his religious family.

Chapter 24 - In which the summer brings not only a change in temperature for the cows and their milkers, but also has a similar impact on the inner emotions of our protagonists.

Chapter 23 - In which the four milkmaids make a trip to the local church on a Sunday morning.  Three of the four are less positively impacted than the fourth by the unexpected encounter along the way.

Chapter 22 - In which a short description of the challenges of making butter, particularly when the cows are apt to ingest a rather more pungent addition to their mainly grassy diet.

Chapter 21 - In which there is talk of where Angel Clare's attentions may be lying.  The young milkmaids discuss their feelings as the sun goes down.

Chapter 20 - In which we hear a brief description of the morning at the Dairy and the early meetings of our 2 protagonists

Chapter 19 - In which Tess begins to make the acquaintance of the interesting parson's son, Angel Clare and they begin to share thoughts on life from their different perspectives, finding more in common than they might have imagined

Chapter 18 - In which we are introduced to a brief history of our new protagonist, Angel Clare and his journey to the present occupation at the milk farm.

Chapter 17 - In which Tess is welcomed into her new community of milkers and begins her work as a milkmaid.  She also becomes aware of a past acquaintance from her happier days.

Chapter 16 - In which Tess sets out on her journey to her new opportunity away from the past misfortunes and with hope that she can begin again in a sphere where she is less known and with the intention of putting this past behind her.

Chapter 15 - In which Tess resolves to leave Marlott after the challenging and unfortunate events caused by her family's desire to 'claim kin'.

Chapter 14 - In which Tess emerges with the other village harvesters to help with the harvest and take her place among the binders of sheaves.  But further consequences of the past are also revealed.

Chapter 13 - In which Tess begins to mix with her compatriots in Marlott, and takes some encouragement from their misplaced admiration before realizing that things have changed beyond her control.

Chapter 12 - In which Tess says goodbye to Trantridge and makes her way back home to Marlott but not before a final encounter with Alec D'Urberville before she reaches the place of her birth.

Chapter 11 - In which Tess is taken for a long ride with Alec after escaping with him on his horse.  But the short journey home seems to turn into a much longer trek in the descending fog.

Chapter 10 - In which Tess has settled in to her new job at the fowl house and is now able to participate in the countryfolk's propensity to revel of a Saturday night and to enjoy the company of her peers before an incident occurs that has her once again bearing the company of Alec D'Urberville.

Chapter 9 - In which Tess makes the acquaintance of not only the birds she is now repsonsibile for, but also of the lady of the house, Mrs. D'Urberville.

Chapter 8 - In which Tess rides with Alec D'Urberville to her new situation and has grave doubts about her newly found connection to her so called kinsman.

Chapter 7 - In which Tess makes ready for her journey to the Stoke-D'Urbervilles and her new position working for them.  Her mother conitnues to enthuse over the prospects this might intend, and the family bid farewell as her new adventure begins.

Chapter 6 - In which plans are discussed regarding Tess's invitation to take up a position with the Stoke-D'Urbervilles as a manager of their poultry farm.  Mrs Durbeyfield is keen to see her daughter take up the offer, Tess not so much.

Chapter 5 - In which Tess agrees to go along with her mother's project given the guilt she feels over the dead horse.  This leads to a somewhat reluctant journey and experience in unfamiliar surroundings.

Chapter 4 - The locals hear about the Durbeyfield's new found ancestry over a pleasant drink in the upper room of the local off-license.  It falls to Tess to take the beehives to market

Chapter 3 - Tess chooses to leave her revelry in the fields to return to her home in the village where we meet some members of her family.

Chapter 2 - After setting the countryside scene of our story, we are introduced to our main protagonist and her companions in their traditional walking club and some new characters make their entrance.

Thomas Hardy added a number of prefaces to his novel over the period from first publication until his final comments in 1912.  These are followed by the first chapter in this classic novel