Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure

by Harold Bloom

A collection of eight critical essays on Thomas Hardy's last major novel, arranged in chronological order of publication.

Genres: Classics

152 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1987

About the author

Harold Bloom was an American literary critic and the Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale University. In 2017, Bloom was called "probably the most famous literary critic in the English-speaking world." After publishing his first book in 1959, Bloom wrote more than 50 books, including over 40 books of literary criticism, several books discussing religion, and one novel. He edited hundreds of anthologies concerning numerous literary and philosophical figures for the Chelsea House publishing firm. Bloom's books have been translated into more than 40 languages. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1995.
Bloom was a defender of the traditional Western canon at a time when literature departments were focusing on what he derided as the "school of resentment" (multiculturalists, feminists, Marxists, and others). He was educated at Yale University, the University of Cambridge, and Cornell University.

Reviews

[Euginia Liapich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unfortunate life and endless sorrows
And Fractured dreams with gaps between
Life and bestowed Wonderings of tommorow
Unfortunate life! And—endless sorrows
Instead of life long goals this day and morrow
With lowly goals instead of dreams
Unfortunate! Life! And endless – sorrows
And Fractured dreams with—gaps? Between

[Lucy Meurer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Distressingly and beautifully despairing.

[Lee Kofman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t manage to push past about 90 pages. I love the characterisation, the ambition and the gentle humour of this novel, but the language is too convoluted for me, the allusions too obscure and it’s overwritten to my taste. So while I can see why this is a classic, it is not my kind of a book.

[Emma Beveridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking the strictures society holds us in

[Jeannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. I never knew that the theme of tragedy was not intended for common folk like Jude, and this book was the first of its kind. It's too bad it was not received well, and Hardy never wrote any more serious novels after this one. Shocking ending, and lots of depth in the characters.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent collection of essays about a book I love to gnaw on. I didn't know Hardy quit writing fiction after finishing this book, which was blasted in the press. Of course it's an academic drag in places, but I'd recommend it to anyone who seriously loves "Jude the Obscure." I found the essay about Sue Bridehead and feminism especially fascinating.