The Wordsworth Classics covers a huge list of beloved works of literature in English and translations. This growing series is rigorously updated, with scholarly introductions and notes added to new titles.
Jude Fawley is a rural stone mason with intellectual aspirations. Frustrated by poverty and the indifference of the academic institutions at the U...
The Wordsworth Classics covers a huge list of beloved works of literature in English and translations. This growing series is rigorously updated, with scholarly introductions and notes added to new titles.
Jude Fawley is a rural stone mason with intellectual aspirations. Frustrated by poverty and the indifference of the academic institutions at the University of Christminster, his only chance of fulfilment seems to lie in his relationship with his unconventional cousin, Sue Bridehead.
From Library Journal
Jude the Obscure created storms of scandal and protest for the author upon its publication. Hardy, disgusted and disappointed, devoted the remainder of his life to poetry and never wrote another novel. Today, the material is far less shocking. Jude Fawley, a poor stone carver with aspirations toward an academic career, is thwarted at every turn and is finally forced to give up his dreams of a university education. He is tricked into an unwise marriage, and when his wife deserts him, he begins a relationship with a free-spirited cousin. With this begins the descent into bleak tragedy as the couple alternately defy and succumb to the pressures of a deeply disapproving society. Hardy's characters have a fascinating ambiguity: they are victimized by a stern moral code, but they are also selfish and weak-willed creatures who bring on much of their own difficulties through their own vacillations and submissions to impulse. The abridgment speeds Jude's fall to considerable dramatic effect, but it also deletes the author's agonizing logic. Instead of the meticulous weaving of Jude's destiny, we get a somewhat incoherent summary that preserves the major plot points but fails to draw us into the tragedy. Michael Pennington reads resonantly and skillfully, his voice perfectly matching the grim music of Hardy's prose, but this recording can only be recommended for larger public libraries.
-John Owen, Advanced Micro Devices, Sunnyvale, CA
From AudioFile
Author Thomas Hardy espoused Shakespeare's dictum (from King Lear): "As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods; they kill us for their sport." He particularly exhibits this pessimism in Jude the Obscure, his tragedy about Jude Fawley, a stonemason torn by ambitions both intellectual and carnal, and Sue Whitehead, an early feminist whom Jude loves and who sometimes loves Jude. A compelling novel is made more so in this audio version by the outstanding work of Frederick Davidson. Always dependable, Davidson here excels in his use of measured dramatics; his consistent differentiation of a large cast of characters from varying social, educational and, therefore, dialectal groups; and his obvious personal involvement in the miseries of the two main characters. T.H.
The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature
Novel by Thomas Hardy, published in 1894-95 in Harper's New Monthly as Hearts Insurgent; published in book form in 1895. 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 (Oxford University). 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.
About Author
Rosellen Brown is the author of Half a Heart, The Autobiography of My Mother, Tender Mercies and Before and After. She lives in Chicago.
This novel has brought me a heartquake, and it lasted for more than ten years by now. I will find my own Westminster Abbey and delcare my dreams to all the passers-by, just like what Jude did...
‘I think you are my dear Sue, from whom neither length or breadth, nor things present nor things to come, can divide me!’ ‘She’s never found peace since she left his arms, and never will again till sh...‘I think you are my dear Sue, from whom neither length or breadth, nor things present nor things to come, can divide me!’ ‘She’s never found peace since she left his arms, and never will again till she’s as he is now!’(展开)
推荐一本小众的书,这几天因为查到一些试验性资料后跟这本书结合看,我现在还在震撼中回味着思考着;仍然是仁者见仁,清醒的人更加清醒,沉睡的人继续沉睡- 作者用一个堂吉柯德式的悲剧人物引发一个用3-4代人才能带来的改变,即使可能是蚍蜉撼树,也要去摇醒那些沉睡和麻木的心灵《Jude the obscure》看书看自己、每个人看书时带入的思考角度、包括融入的自己的阅历、自己当下的思维都不尽相同,只能说对于我...推荐一本小众的书,这几天因为查到一些试验性资料后跟这本书结合看,我现在还在震撼中回味着思考着;仍然是仁者见仁,清醒的人更加清醒,沉睡的人继续沉睡- 作者用一个堂吉柯德式的悲剧人物引发一个用3-4代人才能带来的改变,即使可能是蚍蜉撼树,也要去摇醒那些沉睡和麻木的心灵《Jude the obscure》看书看自己、每个人看书时带入的思考角度、包括融入的自己的阅历、自己当下的思维都不尽相同,只能说对于我,这本书让我对关于思考- 性格与命运、传统与革新、独树一帜时坚守与力量的来源,还有跳出框架我们能看到什么有着最深刻的感受,印象深刻的是主人公们身上的那股劲儿、那种笃定和勇敢,面对别人看不到、不会给予肯定的事物,面对沉重的打击,你还能不能坚定信念勇往直前,动摇的时候又会不会为了大众认同而丢下初心(展开)
记得chapter 1似乎是最难读进去的,于是总是把书拿起又放下……断断续续花了快半年的时间终于看完,心情非常之沉重。喜欢的是书中描写男女主的爱情细腻至极的对话与内心戏,虽然篇幅多但没有一句废话。令人震惊的是尾声突然出现的死亡、分离、疾病,与之前的爱情故事的强烈对比是压迫性的窒息。你可以说结局的悲剧是男女主的咎由自取、自找苦吃,可作为一名有心的读者你又为他们之间纯粹的爱情所叹息。这本书的伟大在于它...记得chapter 1似乎是最难读进去的,于是总是把书拿起又放下……断断续续花了快半年的时间终于看完,心情非常之沉重。喜欢的是书中描写男女主的爱情细腻至极的对话与内心戏,虽然篇幅多但没有一句废话。令人震惊的是尾声突然出现的死亡、分离、疾病,与之前的爱情故事的强烈对比是压迫性的窒息。你可以说结局的悲剧是男女主的咎由自取、自找苦吃,可作为一名有心的读者你又为他们之间纯粹的爱情所叹息。这本书的伟大在于它的勇敢与对世俗观念的无畏,同时又不得不让人意识到人类面对社会规则下的弱小与挣扎。书中悲剧主题来自于叔本华:“human are born to be suffering” 和人是不自知的。(展开)
0 有用 扑棱扑棱 2019-12-04 16:15:31
前半部写Jude的性格真好看,后半部有点学究气了
0 有用 甄好古 2009-06-01 07:38:58
讀過其它版本(也是英文原版)。書寫得很好,但是太鬱悶。看完之後好幾個禮拜緩不過來。所以并不推薦人看。想看讓人懊惱的書,讀對現實世界的分析就夠樂。
0 有用 Maurice Moss 2012-07-25 20:36:12
Love will tear us apart.
5 有用 K 2014-01-26 17:31:56
I am an outsider to the end of my days.
3 有用 沁云 2012-03-04 00:16:33
This novel has brought me a heartquake, and it lasted for more than ten years by now. I will find my own Westminster Abbey and delcare my dreams to all the passers-by, just like what Jude did...
0 有用 不高興 2022-05-08 20:34:29
‘I think you are my dear Sue, from whom neither length or breadth, nor things present nor things to come, can divide me!’ ‘She’s never found peace since she left his arms, and never will again till sh... ‘I think you are my dear Sue, from whom neither length or breadth, nor things present nor things to come, can divide me!’ ‘She’s never found peace since she left his arms, and never will again till she’s as he is now!’ (展开)
0 有用 Decem 2022-04-29 19:53:03
我很喜欢哈代加进去的点点滴滴的小思考,特别是前半部分,比如裘德他在Christminster的第一晚仿佛在跟书上的古人对话那里 (真的过于真实,我也经常这样)还有他的环境描写真的很优美,比如裘德夜走Christminster感觉自己是飘在空中,然后那种古老建筑,学术历史和月光的氛围感真的绝了,其实我也很喜欢里面对于婚姻的批判,Arabella和Jude早期的关系我觉得过于真实,两个根本不相配的人在... 我很喜欢哈代加进去的点点滴滴的小思考,特别是前半部分,比如裘德他在Christminster的第一晚仿佛在跟书上的古人对话那里 (真的过于真实,我也经常这样)还有他的环境描写真的很优美,比如裘德夜走Christminster感觉自己是飘在空中,然后那种古老建筑,学术历史和月光的氛围感真的绝了,其实我也很喜欢里面对于婚姻的批判,Arabella和Jude早期的关系我觉得过于真实,两个根本不相配的人在荷尔蒙的影响下被蒙蔽了双眼,然后就这么上了婚姻的贼船,从此分开就难了,即使彼此根本不互相理解(这样的我见太多了...)然后也喜欢那种批判学校不让没钱的人学这样的,但是哈代少碰爱情线,Sue和Jude虽然说很像,但我不觉得他们的爱情很让人信服 🤣 而且感情纠结看得好烦 (展开)
0 有用 利兹Liza💛 2022-04-18 10:24:32
推荐一本小众的书,这几天因为查到一些试验性资料后跟这本书结合看,我现在还在震撼中回味着思考着;仍然是仁者见仁,清醒的人更加清醒,沉睡的人继续沉睡- 作者用一个堂吉柯德式的悲剧人物引发一个用3-4代人才能带来的改变,即使可能是蚍蜉撼树,也要去摇醒那些沉睡和麻木的心灵《Jude the obscure》看书看自己、每个人看书时带入的思考角度、包括融入的自己的阅历、自己当下的思维都不尽相同,只能说对于我... 推荐一本小众的书,这几天因为查到一些试验性资料后跟这本书结合看,我现在还在震撼中回味着思考着;仍然是仁者见仁,清醒的人更加清醒,沉睡的人继续沉睡- 作者用一个堂吉柯德式的悲剧人物引发一个用3-4代人才能带来的改变,即使可能是蚍蜉撼树,也要去摇醒那些沉睡和麻木的心灵《Jude the obscure》看书看自己、每个人看书时带入的思考角度、包括融入的自己的阅历、自己当下的思维都不尽相同,只能说对于我,这本书让我对关于思考- 性格与命运、传统与革新、独树一帜时坚守与力量的来源,还有跳出框架我们能看到什么有着最深刻的感受,印象深刻的是主人公们身上的那股劲儿、那种笃定和勇敢,面对别人看不到、不会给予肯定的事物,面对沉重的打击,你还能不能坚定信念勇往直前,动摇的时候又会不会为了大众认同而丢下初心 (展开)
0 有用 Milkfoam_ 2022-01-31 08:56:45
记得chapter 1似乎是最难读进去的,于是总是把书拿起又放下……断断续续花了快半年的时间终于看完,心情非常之沉重。喜欢的是书中描写男女主的爱情细腻至极的对话与内心戏,虽然篇幅多但没有一句废话。令人震惊的是尾声突然出现的死亡、分离、疾病,与之前的爱情故事的强烈对比是压迫性的窒息。你可以说结局的悲剧是男女主的咎由自取、自找苦吃,可作为一名有心的读者你又为他们之间纯粹的爱情所叹息。这本书的伟大在于它... 记得chapter 1似乎是最难读进去的,于是总是把书拿起又放下……断断续续花了快半年的时间终于看完,心情非常之沉重。喜欢的是书中描写男女主的爱情细腻至极的对话与内心戏,虽然篇幅多但没有一句废话。令人震惊的是尾声突然出现的死亡、分离、疾病,与之前的爱情故事的强烈对比是压迫性的窒息。你可以说结局的悲剧是男女主的咎由自取、自找苦吃,可作为一名有心的读者你又为他们之间纯粹的爱情所叹息。这本书的伟大在于它的勇敢与对世俗观念的无畏,同时又不得不让人意识到人类面对社会规则下的弱小与挣扎。书中悲剧主题来自于叔本华:“human are born to be suffering” 和人是不自知的。 (展开)
0 有用 流波將月去 2021-05-04 01:56:25
没有爱就没有愤怒,相应地会想要出家。我也不晓得我最近为什么累到连粉饰自己的疲惫的兴致都没有,但总归就是,Jude终于读完了,我可以开启下一轮阅读训练了。喜欢那个结尾,我在结尾终于模模糊糊想象出了一点他的样子。不彻底的人,不彻底的智慧,不彻底的悲剧;切望本身并不高贵,为爱情蹉跎一生也是懦弱的写照。作者没能把主角凭空变为圣人,他的苍白倒是反衬出Arabella和Sue的生动:不完美人格里执拗、激烈、磕... 没有爱就没有愤怒,相应地会想要出家。我也不晓得我最近为什么累到连粉饰自己的疲惫的兴致都没有,但总归就是,Jude终于读完了,我可以开启下一轮阅读训练了。喜欢那个结尾,我在结尾终于模模糊糊想象出了一点他的样子。不彻底的人,不彻底的智慧,不彻底的悲剧;切望本身并不高贵,为爱情蹉跎一生也是懦弱的写照。作者没能把主角凭空变为圣人,他的苍白倒是反衬出Arabella和Sue的生动:不完美人格里执拗、激烈、磕磕碰碰出的裂痕和皱纹,总让人感到她们其实根本不可能爱上Jude这样的男人。 (展开)