This novel by Thomas Hardy could be called “Loser Jude and his wife.” But it is “Inconspicuous” best describes the protagonist. A young bricklayer from the provincial town of Jude Fowley always dreamed of becoming a scientist, read a lot, studied Latin, but he had one disastrous trait – he did not understand women. One failed marriage to an annoying woman, disappointment, divorce, eventually escaping the city of opportunities and a fateful meeting with his cousin Sue.
Jude falls madly in love with her, through scandals, suffering and violation of moral norms of that era. In the end, they still love each other, give birth to two children. But one day in the lives of the heroes there is a terrible tragedy that destroys their family and relationship to the ground.
