Identifying Thomas Hardy's Last Major Novel

The question asks to identify the final major novel written by the renowned English author Thomas Hardy.

Analyzing Hardy's Novel Publication Timeline

To answer this, let's consider the publication dates of the novels listed:

• The Return of the Native was published in 1878.
• The Trumpet Major was published in 1880.
• Tess of the D'Urbervilles was published in 1891.
• Jude the Obscure was published in 1895.

Determining the Final Major Work

Thomas Hardy ceased writing novels after Jude the Obscure in 1895, facing considerable controversy for the work. While he continued to write poetry, Jude the Obscure is widely considered his last significant contribution to the genre of the novel.

Therefore, the correct answer is Jude the Obscure.