Jude the Obscure: Book Guide, Author and Facts
Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy — plot, author, genre and where to read, in one evergreen guide.
Hardy's last work of fiction, Jude the Obscure is also one of his most gloomily fatalistic, depicting the lives of individuals who are trapped by forces beyond their control. Jude Fawley, a poor villager, wants to enter the divinity school at Christminster. Sidetracked by Arabella Donn, an earthy country girl who pretends to be pregnant by him, Jude marries her and is then deserted. He earns a living as a stonemason at Christminster; there he falls in love with his independent-minded cousin, Sue Bridehead. Out of a sense of obligation, Sue marries the schoolmaster Phillotson, who has helped her. Unable to bear living with Phillotson, she returns to live with Jude and eventually bears his children out of wedlock. Their poverty and the weight of society's disapproval begin to take a toll on Sue and Jude; the climax occurs when Jude's son by Arabella hangs Sue and Jude's children and himsel
Quick facts about Jude the Obscure
- Title: Jude the Obscure
- Author: Thomas Hardy
- First published: 1895
- Genre: social life and customs, death, pine
- OpenLibrary ID: OL44986W
Where to read Jude the Obscure
Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy is widely available in print, ebook and audiobook editions from major retailers and libraries.
Compiled from public OpenLibrary data. Availability and details can change over time.
Frequently asked questions
What is Jude the Obscure about?
Hardy's last work of fiction, Jude the Obscure is also one of his most gloomily fatalistic, depicting the lives of individuals who are trapped by forces beyond their control.
Who wrote Jude the Obscure?
Jude the Obscure was written by Thomas Hardy.
When was Jude the Obscure published?
Jude the Obscure was first published in 1895.
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