Book #6: "He Continued To Wish Himself Out of the World"

I have just finished reading Thomas Hardy's last novel, Jude the Obscure (1895).

This is the finest tragic novel I have ever read -- and the most tragic work (in my subjective experience it surpasses even the classical tragedy of Sophocles et al).

The Penguin Classics customer review page at Amazon.com has no less than 133 customer reviews; perusing these will give you a more than fair idea of what to expect from this spectacularly well-written work. (Note: I would be skeptical of reviews which attempt to detract merit from the book because of how "depressing" or "sadistic" etc the reviewer claims it to be. Those reviews reveal little about the book and much about the reviewers.)

On a personal note ... I cried on four separate occasions throughout the reading. Chapter VI-II will be with me for the rest of my life. Tears well earned, Mr. Hardy. I'll be seeing you back in Wessex, to be sure.