From Library Journal
Jude the Obscure created storms of scandal and protest for the author upon its publication. Hardy, disgusted and disappointed, devoted the remainder of his life to poetry and never wrote another novel. Today, the material is far less shocking. Jude Fawley, a poor stone carver with aspirations toward an academic career, is thwarted at every turn and is finally forced to give up his dreams of a university education. He is tricked into an unwise marriage, and when his wife deserts him, he begins a relationship with a free-spirited cousin. With this begins the descent into bleak tragedy as the couple alternately defy and succumb to the pressures of a deeply disapproving society. Hardy's characters have a fascinating ambiguity: they are victimized by a stern moral code, but they are also selfish and weak-willed creatures who bring on much of their own difficulties through their own vacillations and submissions to impulse. The abridgment speeds Jude's fall to considerable dramatic effect, but it also deletes the author's agonizing logic. Instead of the meticulous weaving of Jude's destiny, we get a somewhat incoherent summary that preserves the major plot points but fails to draw us into the tragedy. Michael Pennington reads resonantly and skillfully, his voice perfectly matching the grim music of Hardy's prose, but this recording can only be recommended for larger public libraries.
-John Owen, Advanced Micro Devices, Sunnyvale, CA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
-John Owen, Advanced Micro Devices, Sunnyvale, CA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From AudioFile
Some indigestible novels should be delivered orally by the best possible narrator; they're too painful to read otherwise. This is definitely the case with Hardy's Jude the Obscure. Hardy's prose style is preachy, Jude and Sue's troubles are simply beyond the pale, and the reader's sympathy can be exhausted early on. Narrator Stephen Thorne comes to the rescue by taking the novel seriously. He performs all characters masterfully, with helpful pacing and impressive energy. Every gasp, sob, moan, and cry is professionally delivered without a trace of irony. Upon completion, one feels gratitude towards the talented Thorne for helping us get down this bitter pill of a book. P.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine
