'Jude The Obscure'

I visited the William J. Clinton Presidential Library recently in Little Rock, Arkansas. As part of the displays, a number of books that Clinton considered some of his favorites were on showcase.

Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" was included.

The story chronicles Jude, a poor orphan, who seeks an academic's life more so than anything. Then women happen. Screws everything up. As usual.

"Strange that his first aspiration -- towards academical proficiency -- had been checked by a woman, and that his second aspriation -- towards apostleship -- had also been checked by a woman. 'Is it,' he said, 'that the women are to blame; or is it the artificial system of things, under which the normal sex-impulses are turned into devilish gins and springes to noose and hold back those who want to progress?'"

Maybe Bill should've taken more notice. Probably would've saved him a lot of trouble.