Review rated by 8 Ciao members on average: somewhat helpful
This review received a counterstatement by a party concernedRead Comment
The pessimism of tragic circumstances, so often a feature in Hardy, is in this novel, but so too is the strength of character which for me prevents the pessimistic novels becoming depressing. The character of Jude himself, despite the futility of his ambitions and his loves, is admirable though I had considerably less sympathy with his ‘soul male’ Sue Bridehead. The character of Phillotson however, whose story was in a way a reflection of Jude’s was subtly drawn and shows that Hardy rarely created simple villains. The suicide of Father Time and his murder of the other children was however too much for me – so gruesome as to seem unreal. Normally I defend Hardy strongly on the grounds that pessimism is realism but here I cannot. Overall though I enjoyed the novel very much.
e-spirited cousin. No Victorian inst*tution is spared -- marriage, religion, education -- and the outrage following publication led the embittered author to renounce...
by (75%):
25.04.2004 23:33
Such a tragic story. More information and I would have rated higher. Maureen
10.02.2004 15:04
Not enough detail. Alex
03.09.2002 01:42
I'm just finishing this novel and see what you mean. Need some more to give a higher rating.