Tess of the D'UrbervillesTess of the D'Ur‧ber‧villes /ˌtes əv ðə ˈdɜːbəvɪlz $ -ˈdɜːrbər-/(1891) a novel by Thomas hardy about a young woman who is persuaded by a man from a higher social class to have sex with him. He treats her very badly and she finally kills him and is hanged for his murder.