Jude the Obscure

The narrative centers on Jude Fawley, a lower-class man aspiring to be a scholar, whose ambitions are thwarted by his ill-fated marriage to the superficial Arabella. Set in southern England, Jude's journey from a bakery worker to a disillusioned dreamer unfolds alongside his complex relationship with his cousin, Sue Bridehead. Themes of ambition, societal constraints, and moral downfall permeate the story, which faced criticism for its bold depictions but is now celebrated as one of Hardy's most profound novels.