Thomas Hardy title heroine (4)
I believe the answer is:
tess
'thomas hardy title heroine' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for tess that I've seen before include "Ill-starred Hardy heroine" , "Thomas Hardy girl" , "- of the d'Urbevilles (Hardy)" , "Hardy female" , "Lady" .)