Ruth Martin.
Hardy was a ground breaker with an insight into female psychology. On reading Tess at about 24 I realised that It doesn't have to be a Man's world, but we have to keep striving... other wise there will be no happy endings.

maggie goren
I read Tess when I was about fourteen and beginning to experience both the physical and emotional changes in my body and mind with a considerable degree of excitement and trepidation. For the first time I understood how difficult it might be to be passionately loved by an attractive male and retain one's virginity and avoid pregnancy at a tender age. It taught me tolerance and compassion for romantic but inexperienced young women of whom men might so easily take advantage. After reading Tess I believed, as I still do now, that sensitive education should be available to both boys and girls to explain how very differently, and in a totally interactive way, the minds and bodies of males and females work. Due to the complexity of interpersonal relationships I have absolutely no idea how persons might be trained to explain the importance of understanding those sexual distinctions. Maybe youngsters all need a wise and worldly older friend to provide this important knowledge if both sexes are to build relationships based on self respect strengthened by informed mutual respect. This is not a point of view (fundamental sexual differences) that is popular today or, in my knowledge, aired much on progammes like Woman's Hour.

Joanne Page
i I can remember reading this book at the age of 16 and being so angry and upset. To me Angel was totally detestable in the the double standard by which he judged Tess and condemned her while doing the same shocked me. That and the priest who refused to baptise the dying baby. The end was truly devastating. The book reinforced my burgeoning feminism. A couple of year's later at university I had to write an essay on social attitudes in the 19th century as they appeared in literature and used Tess as a key example. Re-reading the book did not diminish my anger. i cried as much as previously. The interesting thing was that when I read it out in the tutorial the male lecturer commented that I shouldn't think men didn't think as I did and that he had been deeply affected by the book when he first read it and felt ashamed of his sex.

j flint
extracts from the novel stay with me an enrich my life. I have not re read it for over 15 years. I will read it again now

Carolyn Wood
I studied this book for A level some 30 years ago and still read it regularly hoping that the ending will be different. Like a lot of woman Tess is a victim of circumstances and of her time. Thankfully many of us have moved on since then but for some woman things haven't fundamantally changed.

Angela Mead.
A moving insight into women's vulnerability.

Maggie Metcalfe
I was so pleased to see this book short listed as it was the book that woke me up to 'real life' for women. It was just so unfair! It made me angry and terribly sad. I read it when I was 14 and remember crying for hours in fury, frustration and grief and with a certain determination not to allow that chain of events to happen to me or mine. Despite the tragedy, I love this book, and Tess.

Gail McKiernan
The most powerful & tragic book I have ever read (& my all time favourite). I will always hold Tess close in my heart.

Vivien Haines
I read this book in 1973 as an A level text. A few months before, I gave birth to a daughter. I had been raped just after taking my O levels. I had to give my daughter up for adoption and was quite traumatised at the time. I found the book deeply affecting. Having read the book I determined that I was not guilty and would never be ashamed of what happened. I determined to tell everyone about my beautiful daughter. I am now happily married with three lovely children all of whom know about my first daughter. Then, on 2nd July 2004, we met for the first time since being parted in 1973. Without Tess I could well have followed everybody's advice to forget completely and hide the truth. This book taught me that hiding the truth could only court disaster. All people are vunerable to many types of abuse. When they fall prey to others, it is the perpetrator of the deed or the manipulator, the liar and cheat who is at fault. I am so grateful my story has a happy ending!

Fiona Livesey
First novel that 'shocked'me out of complaiscency about romantic novels with happy endings.

Clare Hoy
The book made me realise how women must work to be in charge of their own destiny and not beholden to men, and that ignorance can bring untold disasters - education is all. I think it also added to my fears of unwanted pregancy and made me retain my virginity longer than most of my age.

Daniela Litcheva
It is remarkable for Hardy's incredible understanding of a woman's soul and her ambitions, hopes and fears.

Heather Docking
I read it when I was about 14 and I was so shocked by what happened to Tess that I found it difficult to finish - in fact I threw it across the room. It made me realise how different things were for women and explained very clearly the concept of the 'double standard'.