Jude the Obscure vs The Scarlet Letter: Which Should You Read?

Both live on shelves: Illegitimate children, Adultery, History, Fiction

Cover of Jude the Obscure

Jude the Obscure Thomas Hardy · 1895 ★★★★☆ 3.8 488 pages · ≈ 9 h 02 m · Light Find on Amazon

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Cover of The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne · 1800 ★★★☆☆ 3.4 172 pages · ≈ 3 h 11 m · Light Find on Amazon

The verdict

Readers rate Jude the Obscure higher: 3.8 vs 3.4 from 77542 votes.
The Scarlet Letter is the quicker read — about 3 hours vs 9 for Jude the Obscure.

Side by side