Chapter 1
On a country road in the English village of Marlott, John Durbeyfield, a drunk, lazy man stumbles toward home from a tavern.
Durbeyfield encounters an elderly parson who greets him as "Sir John." The parson explains to Durbyfield that in his research of bloodlines and nobility, he discovered that Durbyfield is the only living descendant of the historically noble d'Urberville family. As soon as "Sir John" hears that he is of royal ancestry, he hires a carriage to drive him home. Durbyfield expects that his family will be pleased, and although the news of his heritage does not at all change the fact that he's a poor man, he still believes that his noble blood makes him special.
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