Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

Hardy is primarily a storyteller and should be viewed more as a chronicler of moods and deeds than as a philosopher. Yet a novel such as Far from the Madding Crowd, which raises many questions about society, religion, morals, and the contrast between a good life and its rewards, is bound to make the reader curious about the author who brings them up.

The story of independent, beautiful and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene  who attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak  a sheep farmer, captivated by her fetching willfulness; Frank Troy a handsome and reckless Sergeant; and William Boldwood , a prosperous and mature bachelor. This timeless story of Bathsheba's choices and passions explores the nature of relationships and love - as well as the human ability to overcome hardships through resilience and perseverance.

Smart and educated, Miss Everdene enchants one man after the other, sheep farmer, well-to-do bachelor, and a broken-hearted young sergeant. She denies her feelings, rejects the safety a marriage would bring and maintains independence in order to keep managing the farm she has saved from ruin. But she is never alone. Hardy lets us know the politics of being a woman in 1870 England through his characters' actions, opinions and privileges. Life, it seems, is never easy, but once in a while it is fun.

In Victorian England, the independent and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak, a sheep farmer; Frank Troy, a reckless Sergeant; and William Boldwood, a prosperous and mature bachelor.