What one reviewer at amazon said about Jude the Obscure: An Authoritative Text, Backgrounds and Sources, Criticism (A Norton Critical Edition):
Jude the Obscure is a painfully sad novel about a young man destined for failure. The book tells the story of Jude Fawley, a working class youth who dreams of attending a university and of becoming a clergyman. Unfortunately, those dreams never materialize, and Jude's life spirals deeper and deeper into dispair. Almost everything that can go wrong does go wrong for Jude. Some view the events of the novel as far-fetched, but they are all within the realm of possiblity. Hardy wrote this novel to show the hopelessness that many working class people faced in his lifetime. Perhaps Hardy went a little heavy on the tragic events, but they serve a purpose.
Hardy attacks almost everyone in this novel. He makes his married characters so unhappy, that its a wonder that anyone who reads the novel could ever wed. He also portrays the church in such a way that the reader cannot help but root against Jude being religious. Hardy is very hard on the upper class in the book, but portrays the working class poorly as well. No one is happy in this novel, and no one escapes Hardy's wrath. A reader cannot help but root for Jude though. He is a very good person, and nothing ever seems to go his way. This novel works because Jude is good natured.
The book is eloquently written. It is around 450 pages, so it's not too long. The text is fairly difficult. Once again, let me stress that this book is NOT a light read(meaning I would discourage you from bringing it to read on the beach during vacation, unless you like being depressed on vacation). Don't let the depressing content scare you away though. The book was written in Victorian England, but I think almost everyone can relate to it in someway.
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