Tess has returned home, but now she has baby with her, leading to one of the most beautiful and famous sciences in English literature in which Tess sorrowfully baptizes the poor little one. So this week, David, Heidi, and Karen dig in that scene and contemplate what Thomas Hardy is saying through it. Plus, discussion touches on the role Tess’s mother plays in her daughter’s misfortunes. Thanks for listening! Close Reads is a listener-supported production. So on the one hand, when you subscribe you help us meet our expenses, but you also do yourself a favor because you get access to bonus episode, written content, live episodes, and more. Thank you for your support! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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