Love and crime are intricately intertwined in the fate of young Tess, the impoverished heiress of an ancient family, doomed to the role of kept woman—and ready to break this fate at the cost of her own life!

Having fallen victim to a wealthy seducer, she protests against this gross violation of human dignity and is forced to commit murder. 'An honest man deceived is often very cruel when the scales fall from his eyes.'

A classic novel of passion, tragedy, and loss, now legendary thanks to Roman Polanski's film.