Jude the Obscure
(Author) Thomas Hardy"I’m an outsider to the end of my days!" 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 furor when it was first published, with its fearless and challenging exploration of class and sexual relationships. This edition uses the unbowdlerized text of the first volume edition of 1895, and also includes a list for further reading, appendices and a glossary. In his introduction, Dennis Taylor examines biblical allusions and the critique of religion in Jude the Obscure, and its critical reception that led Hardy to abandon novel writing. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy was an English novelist and poet known for his novels set in the fictional county of Wessex, which explored themes of rural life, social class, and the changing landscape of England. Some of his most notable works include "Tess of the d'Urbervilles," "Far from the Madding Crowd," and "The Mayor of Casterbridge."
Hardy's writing style is characterized by his use of natural imagery, detailed descriptions of the English countryside, and his exploration of the complexities of human relationships. His works often challenge Victorian moral conventions and highlight the struggles of ordinary people in a rapidly changing society.
Hardy's contributions to literature include his innovative use of symbolism, his exploration of the impact of modernization on rural communities, and his portrayal of strong, independent female characters. His novels have had a lasting impact on the literary genre of the English novel, influencing later writers such as D.H. Lawrence and Virginia Woolf.
One of Hardy's most famous works is "Tess of the d'Urbervilles," which tells the tragic story of a young woman who is betrayed by the social expectations of her time. This novel is considered a classic of English literature and continues to be studied and admired for its powerful storytelling and social commentary.
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Penguin Readers Level 6
Tess of the D'Urbervilles (ELT Graded Reader) : Abridged Edition
