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Overview
Published in 1895, Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure tells the story of Jude Fawley, a poor villager whose many attempts to rise above his class are crushed by society or the forces of nature
. This shocking novel represented harsh criticisms of Victorian society’s most cherished institutions—including marriage, social class, religion, and higher education. Outrage over Jude the Obscure directed at the author so distressed him that Hardy abandoned novel writing altogether, although he did continue successfully writing poetry.Read the free full text, the full book summary, and mini essays about key topics in Jude the Obscure.
