Product Description

When Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure appeared in 1895, it immediately caused scandal and controversy. Its frank treatment of Jude's sexual relationships with Arabella and Sue, its scathing criticisms of late-Victorian hypocrisy, its depiction of the "New Woman," and its attacks on "holy wedlock" and religious bigotry outraged numerous reviewers; one called the book "Jude the Obscene." Others saw it as brilliantly progressive in its ideas and techniques. Vivid and complex, satiric and harrowing, this novel marked the culmination of Hardy's development as a leading novelist of the cultural transition from the Victorian to the Modernist era. The Broadview edition restores the original, controversial 1895 text.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8287 in Books
• Published on: 1994-04-28
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

Dale Kramer, University of Oregon.
"Cedric Watts's edition of Jude the Obscure is one of an extremely interesting set of literary works from Broadview Press."

English Literature in Transition
"Broadview Press and editor Cedric Watts have done a splendid job."

Synopsis
Jude Fawley's hopes of a university education are lost when he is trapped into marrying the earthy Arabella, who later abandons him. Moving to the town of Christminster where he finds work as a stonemason, Jude meets and falls in love with his cousin Sue Bridehead, a sensitive, freethinking 'New Woman'. Refusing to marry merely for the sake of religious convention, Jude and Sue decide instead to live together, but they are shunned by society and poverty soon threatens to ruin them. "Jude the Obscure", Hardy's last novel, caused a public furore when it was first published, with its fearless and challenging exploration of class and sexual relationships.

Customer Reviews

A (surprisingly) great novel!
I loved this book! When I decided to read it I had so many preconceptions about what it would be like (sadly, I used to equate Hardy with `boring'). I was so wrong. A lot of people warned me against Hardy's writing style, but in Jude it was so beautifully descriptive - he brings the characters and their environment to life. When I sat down to read this, I truly felt myself melt into Jude's world. Furthermore, as a couple of other reviewers have mentioned, I was really shocked by the action of the novel. I found myself enthralled by certain scenes, and when the book came to a close I was seriously gutted - I wanted more. I would definitely recommend!

Surprise Literature read
I had to read this for my 3rd year university English course. I made a special effort this year to try and read as much of the required reading as possible, and this was one of the best of the bunch.

It is fairly easy to read, and has an interesting enough plot line to keep you involved. I recommend it as light reading, but do a little analysis and research and you'll find there's a lot of modernist themes in there too. Be aware there are one or two (nasty) twists in the story too.

Wasn't overly impressed
A rather disturbing tale, which though has moments of greatness ultimately fails to satisfy. The story tells of Jude, who sets his heart on attaining entrance to Christminister (Oxbridge) but ultimately denied because of his station. It tells also of his love for his cousin Sue, and ultimately one sees the tragic spiralling conclusion long before it happens. Despite its flaws it's still worth the read and though overly long is still worth it if not simply for the masterful scene where Jude after his rejection writes on the Christminister gate I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you; and who knoweth not such things as these?