Tess of the D'Urbervilles is a novel written by Thomas Hardy, first published in serialized form in 1891 and later as a complete work in 1892. The novel tells the tragic story of Tess Durbeyfield, a poor peasant girl in rural England, who discovers that she is a descendant of the once-noble d'Urberville family. After a series of unsettling events, including a sexual assault and an illegitimate child, Tess faces judgment from her community and struggles to find redemption in a society that harshly judges her for her perceived transgressions. Set in the fictional county of Wessex, Hardy's novel reflects the social and economic changes of the late 19th century in rural England.