JUDE THE OBSCURE : Historical Romance Novel

The narrative centers on Jude Fawley, a stonemason with aspirations of becoming a scholar, and his cousin Sue Bridehead, who becomes his love interest. Set against the backdrop of class struggles, education, and societal norms in Victorian England, Jude's journey is marked by self-education and personal failures, including a tumultuous relationship with Sue. Their cohabitation and family life lead to social ostracism, highlighting the tensions between personal desires and societal expectations. Thomas Hardy's work critiques the decline of rural society through tragic, passionate characters.