Thomas Hardy’s “Tess of the d’Urbervilles premieres January 4th, 2009, launching a new season of MASTERPIECE CLASSIC, hosted by Laura Linney. Violated by one man, forsaken by another, Tess Durbeyfield (Gemma Arterton, Quantum of Solace; and as Elizabeth Bennet in Lost in Austen) is the spirited heroine, proving that love hurts but also survives. Hans Matheson (Dr. Zhivago) portrays her seducer, Alec, and Eddie Redmayne (Elizabeth: The Golden Age) stars as Angel, the idealistic man she loves.”  [see Masterpiece.org for complete information and online viewing; check your local PBS stations for times]

[Thomas Hardy is my SECOND favorite writer (Austen of course taking the first place honors!), so very much looking forward to this adaptation.  Will post a few thoughts on Hardy shortly….]

[and click here for the New York Times review of the film]