Book contents
- Frontmatter
- CHAPTER I Introductory survey: On the limits of modern history
- CHAPTER II The transformation of social life
- CHAPTER III The world economy: Interdependence and planning
- CHAPTER IV Science and technology
- CHAPTER V Diplomatic history 1900–1912
- CHAPTER VI The approach of the war of 1914
- CHAPTER VII The first world war
- CHAPTER VIII The peace settlement of Versailles 1918–1933
- CHAPTER IX The League of Nations
- CHAPTER X The Middle East 1900–1945
- CHAPTER XI INDIA AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA
- CHAPTER XII China, Japan and the Pacific 1900–1931
- CHAPTER XIII The British Commonwealth of Nations
- CHAPTER XIV The Russian Revolution
- CHAPTER XV The Soviet Union 1917–1939
- CHAPTER XVI Germany, Italy and eastern Europe
- CHAPTER XVII Great Britain, France, The Low Countries and Scandinavia
- CHAPTER XVIII The United States of America
- CHAPTER XIX Latin America
- CHAPTER XX Literature 1895–1939
- CHAPTER XXI PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS THOUGHT
- CHAPTER XXII PAINTING, SCULPTURE AND ARCHITECTURE
- CHAPTER XXIII Diplomatic history 1930–1939
- CHAPTER XXIV The second world war
- CHAPTER XXV Diplomatic history of the second world war
- References
CHAPTER XX - Literature 1895–1939
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 March 2008
- Frontmatter
- CHAPTER I Introductory survey: On the limits of modern history
- CHAPTER II The transformation of social life
- CHAPTER III The world economy: Interdependence and planning
- CHAPTER IV Science and technology
- CHAPTER V Diplomatic history 1900–1912
- CHAPTER VI The approach of the war of 1914
- CHAPTER VII The first world war
- CHAPTER VIII The peace settlement of Versailles 1918–1933
- CHAPTER IX The League of Nations
- CHAPTER X The Middle East 1900–1945
- CHAPTER XI INDIA AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA
- CHAPTER XII China, Japan and the Pacific 1900–1931
- CHAPTER XIII The British Commonwealth of Nations
- CHAPTER XIV The Russian Revolution
- CHAPTER XV The Soviet Union 1917–1939
- CHAPTER XVI Germany, Italy and eastern Europe
- CHAPTER XVII Great Britain, France, The Low Countries and Scandinavia
- CHAPTER XVIII The United States of America
- CHAPTER XIX Latin America
- CHAPTER XX Literature 1895–1939
- CHAPTER XXI PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS THOUGHT
- CHAPTER XXII PAINTING, SCULPTURE AND ARCHITECTURE
- CHAPTER XXIII Diplomatic history 1930–1939
- CHAPTER XXIV The second world war
- CHAPTER XXV Diplomatic history of the second world war
- References
Summary
In 1895 Jude the Obscure was published, Hardy's last, and perhaps his greatest, novel. It was promptly reviled by a majority of reviewers on both sides of the Atlantic, and burnt by a bishop, ‘probably in his despair’, Hardy suggested later, ‘at not being able to burn me’; by so much had progress eroded the fervours of faith. The only long-term effect on the author, as Hardy also revealed, was that of ‘completely curing’ him ‘of further interest in novel writing’. Fortunately it did not also cure him of the habit of poetry; and, meanwhile, Jude seems an excellent place to start.
In certain obvious ways, it is very modern; its treatment of human sexuality is more frank, if not necessarily more realistic, than one finds in any previous important English novel. The claims for naturalism made by Flaubert, Zola, Ibsen and other European writers were at last influencing the British tradition, as they might have done much earlier had it not been for the excessive public prudery of Victorian taste. But, like nearly all major novels, Jude is not primarily naturalistic. Its total impact has more the force of myth. To Hardy, as to many other progressive Victorians, modern life had come to seem a tragic affair. Jude and Sue pursue the romantic quest for self-fulfilment, but the very nature of things conspires against them. Certain of the sufferings arise, it is true, from social causes that might be alleviated; though Jude himself is rejected in his search for education, no laws of nature decree this fate.
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- Information
- The New Cambridge Modern History , pp. 613 - 643Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1968