Far from the Madding Crowd

484 Pages

Didactic fiction
Farm life
Love stories
Pastoral fiction
Triangles (Interpersonal relations)
Wessex (England)
Women farmers

Summary

Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy explores the life and relationships of Bathsheba Everdene, a young woman who inherits her uncle's farm and chooses to manage it herself. Throughout the novel, Bathsheba experiences romance, heartbreak, and the complexities of human emotion, as she interacts with three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak, a shepherd; Sergeant Troy, a charming soldier; and William Boldwood, a prosperous and mature bachelor. The novel is set in the rural backdrop of Wessex in Victorian England and is celebrated for its exploration of Victorian society’s constraints and personal relationships.

Famous Quotes

It is difficult for a woman to define her feelings in language which is chiefly made by men to express theirs. - Bathsheba Everdene

A resolution to avoid an evil is seldom framed till the evil is so far advanced as to make avoidance impossible. - Thomas Hardy

Time changes everything except something within us which is always surprised by change. - Thomas Hardy

Chapters

Chapter 1 - DESCRIPTION OF FARMER OAK—AN INCIDENT →

Chapter 2 - NIGHT—THE FLOCK—AN INTERIOR—ANOTHER INTERIOR →

Chapter 3 - A GIRL ON HORSEBACK—CONVERSATION →

Chapter 4 - GABRIEL’S RESOLVE—THE VISIT—THE MISTAKE →

Chapter 5 - DEPARTURE OF BATHSHEBA—A PASTORAL TRAGEDY →

Chapter 6 - THE FAIR—THE JOURNEY—THE FIRE →

Chapter 7 - RECOGNITION—A TIMID GIRL →

Chapter 8 - THE MALTHOUSE—THE CHAT—NEWS →

Chapter 9 - THE HOMESTEAD—A VISITOR—HALF CONFIDENCES →

Chapter 10 - MISTRESS AND MEN →

Chapter 11 - MELCHESTER MOOR—SNOW—A MEETING →

Chapter 12 - FARMERS—A RULE—AN EXCEPTION →

Chapter 13 - SORTES SANCTORUM—THE VALENTINE →

Chapter 14 - EFFECT OF THE LETTER—SUNRISE →

Chapter 15 - A MORNING MEETING—THE LETTER AGAIN →

Chapter 16 - ALL SAINTS’ AND ALL SOULS’ →

Chapter 17 - IN THE MARKET-PLACE →

Chapter 18 - BOLDWOOD IN MEDITATION—A VISIT →

Chapter 19 - THE SHEEP-WASHING—THE OFFER →

Chapter 20 - PERPLEXITY—GRINDING THE SHEARS—A QUARREL →

Chapter 21 - TROUBLES IN THE FOLD—A MESSAGE →

Chapter 22 - THE GREAT BARN AND THE SHEEP-SHEARERS →

Chapter 23 - EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION →

Chapter 24 - THE SAME NIGHT—THE FIR PLANTATION →

Chapter 25 - THE NEW ACQUAINTANCE DESCRIBED →

Chapter 26 - SCENE ON THE VERGE OF THE HAY-MEAD →

Chapter 27 - HIVING THE BEES →

Chapter 28 - THE HOLLOW AMID THE FERNS →

Chapter 29 - PARTICULARS OF A TWILIGHT WALK →

Chapter 30 - HOT CHEEKS AND TEARFUL EYES →

Chapter 31 - BLAME—FURY →

Chapter 32 - NIGHT—HORSES TRAMPING →

Chapter 33 - IN THE SUN—A HARBINGER →

Chapter 34 - HOME AGAIN—A JUGGLER →

Chapter 35 - AT AN UPPER WINDOW →

Chapter 36 - WEALTH IN JEOPARDY—THE REVEL →

Chapter 37 - THE STORM—THE TWO TOGETHER →

Chapter 38 - RAIN—ONE SOLITARY MEETS ANOTHER →

Chapter 39 - COMING HOME—A CRY →

Chapter 40 - ON CASTERBRIDGE HIGHWAY →

Chapter 41 - SUSPICION—FANNY IS SENT FOR →

Chapter 42 - JOSEPH AND HIS BURDEN—BUCK’S HEAD →

Chapter 43 - FANNY’S REVENGE →

Chapter 44 - UNDER A TREE—REACTION →

Chapter 45 - TROY’S ROMANTICISM →

Chapter 46 - THE GURGOYLE: ITS DOINGS →

Chapter 47 - ADVENTURES BY THE SHORE →

Chapter 48 - DOUBTS ARISE—DOUBTS VANISH →

Chapter 49 - OAK’S ADVANCEMENT—A GREAT HOPE →

Chapter 50 - THE SHEEP FAIR—TROY TOUCHES HIS WIFE’S HAND →

Chapter 51 - BATHSHEBA TALKS WITH HER OUTRIDER →

Chapter 52 - CONVERGING COURSES →

Chapter 53 - CONCURRITUR—HORÆ MOMENTO →

Chapter 54 - AFTER THE SHOCK →

Chapter 55 - THE MARCH FOLLOWING—“BATHSHEBA BOLDWOOD” →

Chapter 56 - BEAUTY IN LONELINESS—AFTER ALL →

Chapter 57 - A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION →