JUDE THE OBSCURE

The most dolorous (and infamous) novel of England's most dolorous novelist recounts the short, dolorous life of a country stonemason whose spiritual longings and artistic genius fail to save him from his total want of judgment. Possessed of an uncommonly beautiful voice, Michael Pennington expertly reads a somewhat drastic abridgment, which robs the original of much of its color. If this reviewer is to endure the moroseness of Hardy's tragic characters, he wants the reward of all Hardy's brilliant prose. Y.R. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/MAR 01]