The Real Woman Behind Tess of the d’Urbervilles

Gill Donell will be joined by panellists Professor Angelique Richardson, Lady Edwina
Grosvenor and Dr Rose Wallis to discuss Thomas Hardy’s character of Tess Durbeyfield, and
the real woman who influenced the famous story.

 

Event Description

In 1856, Thomas Hardy witnessed the hanging body of Martha Brown, the last woman to be
publicly hanged in Dorchester. Brown had been hanged for the murder of her husband. The
injustice of her sentence would haunt Hardy for the rest of his life, and his later novel in
some ways vindicated Brown.
The panellists will explore the influence of Brown on Hardy, as well as the reception of Tess
of the d’Urbervilles (1891) at the time and what this story has to say in our own age.

Event Location

Online

Event Places:

Price

£5 per screen

Event Date:

13th October 7pm

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