Jude The Obscure (barnes & Noble Classics Series)

&&LDIV&&R&&LDIV&&R&&LDIV&&R&&LI&&RJude the Obscure&&L/I&&R, by &&LB&&RThomas Hardy&&L/B&&R, is part of the &&LI&&RBarnes & Noble Classics&&L/I&&R&&LI&&R &&L/I&&Rseries, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of &&LI&&RBarnes & Noble Classics&&L/I&&R: &&LDIV&&RNew introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars Biographies of the authors Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events Footnotes and endnotes Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work Comments by other famous authors Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations Bibliographies for further reading Indices & Glossaries, when appropriateAll editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. &&LI&&RBarnes & Noble Classics &&L/I&&Rpulls together a constellation of influences―biographical, historical, and literary―to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works.&&L/DIV&&R&&L/DIV&&R&&LP style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"&&R &&L/P&&R&&LP style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"&&RVirginia Woolf called him “the greatest tragic writer among English novelists,” but &&LSTRONG&&RThomas Hardy&&L/B&&R was so distressed by the shocked outrage that greeted &&LI&&RJude the Obscure&&L/I&&R in 1895 that he decided to quit writing novels. For in telling the story of Jude Fawley, whose many attempts to rise above his class are crushed by society or the forces of nature, Hardy had attacked Victorian society’s most cherished institutions―marriage, social class, religion, and higher education. &&L/P&&R&&LP style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"&&R &&L/P&&R&&LP style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"&&RA poor villager, Jude Fawley longs to study at the elite University of Christminster, but his ambitions are thwarted by class prejudice―and an earthy country girl who tricks him into marriage by pretending to be pregnant. Entrapped in a loveless marriage, he becomes a stonemason and falls in love with his cousin―the intellectual, free-spirited Sue Bridehead, who is also unhappy in marriage. Sue leaves her husband to live with Jude and eventually bears his children out of wedlock. Their poverty and the weight of society’s disapproval begin to take their toll on the couple, forcing them into a shattering downward spiral that ends in one of the most shocking scenes in all of literature.&&L/P&&R&&LP style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"&&R &&L/P&&R&&LP style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"&&RA stunning masterpiece, &&LI&&RJude the Obscure&&L/I&&R is Hardy’s bleakest and most personal novel.&&L/P&&R&&LP&&R&&LB&&RAmy M. King&&L/B&&R is an Assistant Professor of Literature at the California Institute of Technology, and the author of &&LI&&RBloom: The Botanical Vernacular in the English Novel&&L/I&&R, forthcoming from Oxford University Press. She is also the author of articles on eighteenth- and nineteenth-century British literature and culture, and has taught widely in the English novel at Haverford College and Caltech. King received her doctorate in 1998 from Harvard University in English and American Literature and Language. &&L/P&&R&&L/DIV&&R&&L/DIV&&R Jude the Obscure, by Thomas Hardy, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics:

• New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars
• Biographies of the authors
• Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events
• Footnotes and endnotes
• Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work
• Comments by other famous authors
• Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations
• Bibliographies for further reading
• Indices & Glossaries, when appropriate

All editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influences—biographical, historical, and literary—to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works.

 

Virginia Woolf called him "the greatest tragic writer among English novelists,” but Thomas Hardy was so distressed by the shocked outrage that greeted Jude the Obscure in 1895 that he decided to quit writing novels.  For in telling the story of Jude Fawley, whose many attempts to rise above his class are crushed by society or the forces of nature, Hardy had attacked Victorian society’s most cherished institutions—marriage, social class, religion, and higher education. 

 

A poor villager, Jude Fawley longs to study at the elite University of Christminster, but his ambitions are thwarted by class prejudice—and an earthy country girl who tricks him into marriage by pretending to be pregnant.   Entrapped in a loveless marriage, he becomes a stonemason and falls in love with his cousin—the intellectual, free-spirited Sue Bridehead, who is also unhappy in marriage.  Sue leaves her husband to live with Jude and eventually bears his children out of wedlock.  Their poverty and the weight of society’s disapproval begin to take their toll on the couple, forcing them into a shattering downward spiral that ends in one of the most shocking scenes in all of literature.

 

A stunning masterpiece, Jude the Obscure is Hardy’s bleakest and most personal novel.

Amy M. King is an Assistant Professor of Literature at the California Institute of Technology, and the author of Bloom: The Botanical Vernacular in the English Novel, forthcoming from Oxford University Press. She is also the author of articles on eighteenth- and nineteenth-century British literature and culture, and has taught widely in the English novel at Haverford College and Caltech. King received her doctorate in 1998 from Harvard University in English and American Literature and Language.

jude The Obscure, By Thomas Hardy, Is Part Of The barnes & Noble Classics series, Which Offers Quality Editions At Affordable Prices To The Student And The General Reader, Including New Scholarship, Thoughtful Design, And Pages Of Carefully Crafted Extras. Here Are Some Of The Remarkable Features Of barnes & Noble Classics:

• new Introductions Commissioned From Today's Top Writers And Scholars
• biographies Of The Authors
• chronologies Of Contemporary Historical, Biographical, And Cultural Events
• footnotes And Endnotes
• selective Discussions Of Imitations, Parodies, Poems, Books, Plays, Paintings, Operas, Statuary, And Films Inspired By The Work
• comments By Other Famous Authors
• study Questions To Challenge The Reader's Viewpoints And Expectations
• bibliographies For Further Reading
• indices & Glossaries, When Appropriate

all Editions Are Beautifully Designed And Are Printed To Superior Specifications; Some Include Illustrations Of Historical Interest. barnes & Noble Classics pulls Together A Constellation Of Influences—biographical, Historical, And Literary—to Enrich Each Reader's Understanding Of These Enduring Works.

virginia Woolf Called Him “the Greatest Tragic Writer Among English Novelists,” But Thomas Hardy Was So Distressed By The Shocked Outrage That Greeted jude The Obscure In 1895 That He Decided To Quit Writing Novels. For In Telling The Story Of Jude Fawley, Whose Many Attempts To Rise Above His Class Are Crushed By Society Or The Forces Of Nature, Hardy Had Attacked Victorian Society’s Most Cherished Institutions—marriage, Social Class, Religion, And Higher Education.

a Poor Villager, Jude Fawley Longs To Study At The Elite University Of Christminster, But His Ambitions Are Thwarted By Class Prejudice—and An Earthy Country Girl Who Tricks Him Into Marriage By Pretending To Be Pregnant. Entrapped In A Loveless Marriage, He Becomes A Stonemason And Falls In Love With His Cousin—the Intellectual, Free-spirited Sue Bridehead, Who Is Also Unhappy In Marriage. Sue Leaves Her Husband To Live With Jude And Eventually Bears His Children Out Of Wedlock. Their Poverty And The Weight Of Society’s Disapproval Begin To Take Their Toll On The Couple, Forcing Them Into A Shattering Downward Spiral That Ends In One Of The Most Shocking Scenes In All Of Literature.

a Stunning Masterpiece, jude The Obscure Is Hardy’s Bleakest And Most Personal Novel.

amy M. King Is An Assistant Professor Of Literature At The California Institute Of Technology, And The Author Of bloom: The Botanical Vernacular In The English Novel, Forthcoming From Oxford University Press. She Is Also The Author Of Articles On Eighteenth- And Nineteenth-century British Literature And Culture, And Has Taught Widely In The English Novel At Haverford College And Caltech. King Received Her Doctorate In 1998 From Harvard University In English And American Literature And Language.

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 himself. In penance, Sue returns to Phillotson and the church. Jude returns to Arabella and eventually dies miserably. The novel's sexual frankness shocked the public, as did Hardy's criticisms of marriage, the university system, and the church. Hardy was so distressed by its reception that he wrote no more fiction, concentrating solely on his poetry.Please Note: This book is easy to read in true text, not scanned images that can sometimes be difficult to decipher. The Microsoft eBook has a contents page linked to the chapter headings for easy navigation. The Adobe eBook has bookmarks at chapter headings and is printable up to two full copies per year. Both versions are text searchable. Paperback, 429 pages Published 1895 Barnes Noble Classics Series (2003) Introduction by: Amy M. King Virginia Woolf called him “the greatest tragic writer among English novelists,” but Thomas Hardy was so distressed by the shocked outrage that greeted Jude the Obscure in 1895 that he decided to quit writing novels. For in telling the story of Jude Fawley, whose many attempts to rise above his class are crushed by society or the forces of nature, Hardy had attacked Victorian society’s most cherished institutions—marriage, social class, religion, and higher education. A poor villager, Jude Fawley longs to study at the elite University of Christminster, but his ambitions are thwarted by class prejudice—and an earthy country girl who tricks him into marriage by pretending to be pregnant. Entrapped in a loveless marriage, he becomes a stonemason and falls in love with his cousin—the intellectual, free-spirited Sue Bridehead, who is also unhappy in marriage. Sue leaves her husband to live with Jude and eventually bears his children out of wedlock. Their poverty and the weight of society’s disapproval begin to take their toll on the couple, forcing them into a shattering downward spiral that ends in one of the most shocking scenes in all of literature. A stunning masterpiece, Jude the Obscure is Hardy’s bleakest and most personal novel.