Far from the Madding Crowd

The beautiful and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene has no shortage of suitors. She has managed to capture the attention of the devoted shepherd Gabriel Oak, gentleman farmer Boldwood, and the seductive soldier Troy. Their fates hang on Bathsheba's choice, but she herself must discover the consequences of a fickle heart. Thomas Hardy's classic novel is brimming with spirited passion and cautious courtship, all set against the idyllic backdrop of 19th-century English countryside. It received a warm reception upon its original publication in 1874 and has remained popular since. In 2007, The Guardian selected it as one of history's ten greatest love stories, and it has been adapted into film several times, most recently in 2015 starring Carey Mulligan. THOMAS HARDY [1840-1928] was an English poet and author. His work is characterized by realism and criticism of the strict Victorian ideals which he believed limited people's lives and happiness. He achieved great success with the novel Under the Greenwood Tree [1872] and continued with successes such as Far from the Madding Crowd and Tess of the d’Urbervilles.