Thomas Hardy

Gabriel Oaks observes Bathsheba Everdene, the young mistress of Weatherbury Farm, fall victim to bad decisions and romantic impulses, unaware of the stroke of fate that will finally bring about their union.

Far From the Madding Crowd

Christine

hardy: bathsheba is an independent strong woman who don't need no man

bathsheba: *marries the first good looking guy she sees*

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

--------------------

I am so sorry to say that I was greatly disappointed in this book.
And perhaps, it is not the fault of the book, but its movie adaption. I watched the movie years ago on a long flight on my way to somewhere or other (remember when we used to travel places? good old days!), and absolutely loved it. Maybe it was because of jet lag. Or, maybe, as happens once in a blue moon, the movie WAS actually better than the book.
The story itself is actually not bad, and has quite a bit of dramatic shock value when it comes down to the main events despite the slow pace. It touches upon naivity of youth, illusion, social expectations, and loyalty. But what it REALLY touches on, is sheep. I know that sounds weird, but I felt like Hardy was considerably more passionate about the romance of the pastoral life and sheep herding rather than the actual love quadrangle, and that is not an exaggeration. This man loves his farming, and make no mistake. People? Not so much. The human characters making up the rest of the book were just annoying and entitled as hell, starting with Bathsheba. (But just the fact that she is named Bathsheba was enough to set me off, to be honest.)
So overall, a pretty description of the pastoral life, but that's all.
2.5/5

jack

really loved this... though i love more or less everything hardy writes. a sweet, occasionally harrowing tale in praise of moderation, duty, and hard work. the least overtly political hardy i’ve read yet, and (perhaps consequently) the happiest as well. not as strong as jude or tess but still incredibly wonderful

The Penguin English Library Edition of Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy 'I cannot allow any man to - to criticise my private conduct!' she exclaimed. 'Nor will I for a minute' Hardy's powerful novel of swift sexual passion and slow-burning loyalty centres on Bathsheba Everdene, a proud working woman whose life is complicated by three different men - respectable farmer Boldwood, seductive Sergeant Troy and devoted Gabriel - making her the object of scandal and betrayal. Vividly portraying the superstitions and traditions of a small rural community, Far from the Madding Crowd shows the precarious position of a woman in a man's world. The Penguin English Library - 100 editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century and the very first novels to the beginning of the First World War.

Haley Murray

Tracie McMurray

After seeing the 2015 movie, I gave this book another look. The acting in the movie actually improved the book for me. The main character is so unloveable!!

Far from the Madding Crowd (Penguin Classics)

Celeste Richardson

Love is messy. And Thomas Hardy had an incredible grasp of that messiness. Far from the Madding Crowd is only the second book I’ve read by him, Tess of the D'Urbervilles being the first, and both were about love’s ability to wreck lives. Hardy’s writing didn’t grip me as hard in this novel as it did throughout Tess, but the writing was still lovely, and the story still compelling, with a (thankfully) happier ending than Tess provided.

Bathsheba Everdene is a beautiful, headstrong, independent woman who is loved by three different men: Gabriel Oak, a steady, trustworthy farmer and shepherd; William Boldwood, a reserved, dignified landowner of means; and Francis Troy, a dashing, impulsive military sergeant. Bathsheba wants nothing more than the freedom and independence afforded her by running her own life and finds marriage unappealing. But when she does fall haphazardly in love, all four of our central characters pay a price for it.

I’m not a fan of love triangles, and am even less of a fan of love squares or pyramids or whatever you would call the train wreck of relationships in this book. But Hardy has a way of keeping me interested. Did I roll my eyes on occasion? Most definitely. But did the story move me and evoke my sympathy? It did indeed. I will tell you that I rooted for Gabriel throughout the entire book. He was just a genuinely good man who cared more about the happiness and well-being of others than he did his own. Was he rewarded in the end? Who did Bathsheba end up with, if anyone?

Well, you’ll just have to read the book to find out, won’t you? ;-)

Holly Mooney

i only knew what was going on 7% of the time but i’m illiterate don’t worry

Far from the madding crowd

Allison Francis

I already want to read this book again!!! The beginning started slow, but the second half really picked up. All the characters were very interesting and I still don't know how I feel about Bathsheba. I understand her and loved how independent she was, though some of her actions I did not approve of. I honestly wasn't expecting the book to end the way it did. Five stars! I look forward to reading more of Hardy in the future

Marshie

Beautiful, entangling, and plot twists galore! 

Grace O'Callaghan

I have very conflicted feelings about this book. On the one hand the descriptions of nature and the writing is beautiful. But on the other it dragged the plot and made me a little bit bored.

I do appreciate that Hardy wrote a very complex female character at the heart of this novel. Basthsheba Everdeen is independent and the owner of a farm. I’m not sure I entirely like her from some of her decisions, but I do realise it was a different time back then. Women didn’t have as many options as they do now and I enjoyed the fact she did what she wanted when it wasn’t always the easiest thing to do. As much as she does what she wants, that leads to many mistakes. She is not a perfect and ‘strong’ woman but is incredibly flawed.

Gabriel, I quite enjoyed. He was a constant throughout the novel and really grounded the story and how wild Bathsheba’s life could sometimes be. I loved how he was Bashiba’s rock and told her what she needed to hear.

In terms of plot, I think it was pretty dragged out. The plot points themselves I really enjoyed but it was the lulls in between that didn’t grip me as much. I did enjoy the writing about nature but there were also such long monologues that could’ve been said in fewer words.

I absolutely adored the setting of this book. It’s quite a quiet novel plot wise and the setting of a farm reflects the quiet nature. Farm settings in general just really appeal to me, I just love the peace and animals.

Overall, a solid book with a complex main character at the centre of it all. I think perhaps listening to it as an audiobook on a deadline (it needed to be returned to the library) hindered my enjoyment a bit as I wasn’t able to always pick up what was going on. Maybe I’ll pick it up again in the future, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon. I think I’ll really enjoy the film as in theory I really enjoy the events, but it was just a bit dragged out on paper.

Content warnings in the spoiler tag below:
(view spoiler)[Death of people and animals (hide spoiler)]

.0000000000Gabriel Oak is only one of three suitors for the hand of the beautiful and spirited Bathsheba Everdene. He must compete with the dashing young soldier Sergeant Troy and respectable, middle-aged Farmer Boldwood. And while their fates depend upon the choice Bathsheba makes, she discovers the terrible consequences of an inconstant heart. Far from the Madding Crowd was the first of Hardy's novels to give the name of Wessex to the landscape of south-west England, and is set against the backdrop of the unchanging natural cycle of the year, the story both upholds and questions rural values with a startlingly modern sensibility.Illustrated by Helen Allingham, with an Afterword by David Stuart Davies.

Far from the Madding Crowd

Mayra Melo

I will start by stating that I really, truly liked this book. It definitely pushed me to want to read more of his work. Hardy’s narrative is unique and entirely his own; and even though sometimes I could do without the extensive descriptions, his writing and this novel are  truly special. 

Having said that, I can’t say the overly  sexist tones  didn’t bother me. Especially when everything else in the book compelled me so much to love it.
There were some heavy, exceedingly misogynistic and patriarchal quotes in this book. At some point I started counting them, but, honestly, when I reached about the middle of book I lost count: there were SO MANY.

Quotes like these are quite hard to swallow:

 “Bathsheba, though she had too much understanding to be entirely governed by her womanliness, had too much womanliness to use her understanding to the best advantage.” 

 “How would the farm go on with nobody to mind it but a woman?” 

 “Womanly redundancy of speech.” 

 “How weak I am! I shall never forgive God for making me a woman, and dearly am I beginning to pay for the honor of owning a pretty face!” 

 “I am not a fool, you know, although I am a woman, and I have my woman’s moments." 

The fact that most of Hardy’s leading characters are females doesn’t convince of his innocence on the sexist issue at all, especially since most of them are extremely naïve, almost silly women who somehow are shown to be too “weak” to make correct decisions, or incapable of choosing the “obvious” best suitor, causing their unavoidable, tragic fate.

(view spoiler)[ I actually really liked the “rather happy” ending, but it was mostly because I was already apprehensive, having read how Hardy’s novels usually end in tragedy. And in the end, Bathsheba did finally “choose” the right guy.  (hide spoiler)]

Still – considering the gender roles of the time in which it was published – this book, on merit alone, was so good, so expertly written, that the sexism (something that bothers me enough to boycott) didn’t faze it more than one star.

Jade Flynn

I love the Victorians with their eloquent and more luxurious way of writing and Hardy is no different from the other greats. Didn't expect it to be as funny as it was.

letterrausch

Hat mich nicht so mitgerissen wie Tess. Das lag vielleicht daran, dass Tess als "moralische" Frau immer alles richtig gemacht hat und trotzdem mit Unglück bestraft wurde, wohingegen ich bei Bathsheba den Eindruck hatte, dass sie oftmals schlechte Entscheidungen trifft für die sie dann büßen muss. Das erste hatte ein größere Dramapotenzial als das zweite.

Lizzy Frykman

I absolutely loved this book. It was so deep, such a journey, and just so incredible. Thomas Hardy did such a great job with making the reader hate some characters (no spoilers, but Troy is so infuriating), and desperately love and want the best for others. He paints such elaborate pictures which sometimes made it harder to stick to, but it was truly beautiful, and his insights into human nature and character were truly extraordinary. I think he especially had a talent with creating complex and realistic characters, sometimes relatable, sometimes infuriating, always clear and understandable.
I definitely recommend this story to anyone who loves a rollercoaster of a romance and life, some heartbreak and rejection, and a lot of beauty and simplicity. Very enjoyable and lovely.

A young man falls victim to his own obsession with an amorous farm girl in Thomas Hardy's classic novel of fate and unrequited love. Unabridged. 20 CDs.

Lisa van der Heijden 

Love, honour and betrayal are the three themes in the classic novel of Thomas Hardy. It's his fourth novel and is considered to be one of the greatest love stories every told. The book's protagonist is a young, beautiful, independent young woman named Bathsheba Everdene. It follows her transition into a mistress of a farm in a little village in the South of Victorian England and her decision regarding her new position in life. Even though it's described as a love story, it doesn't necessary feel that away. Mostly because Bathsheba doesn't need a man in her life to measure her affairs. She's very capable of that herself. 


"I don't mind being a bride at a wedding, if I could be one without being a wife."
- Bathsheba Everdene

This becomes very clear at the beginning to the novel when she turns down Oaks proposal because she isn't ready to settle yet. Her independency flourished when she inherited the farm from the deceased uncle; she intends to be mistress of the land herself. Through different circumstances Bathsheba finds herself being admired by three different man: the silent loyality of her shepherd Garbiel Oak, the charming persuasion of soldier Trancis Troy and the pressing, overwhelming love of old bachelor William Boldwood. 

Bathsheba isn't a perfect heroin. She makes mistakes; some stupid and some big. It makes her more human and retable. We ALL make mistakes and that is part of human nature. Bathsheba proves that you can be a good person and make decisions that are sometimes a bit cruel (e.g. sending a valentine to Mr Boldwood as a joke). Overall I found her to be a likable protagonist. It was refreshing to read about such a independent, proud and confident woman in the Victorian era. Of course Bathsheba faces insecurities and obstacles throughout the novel, yet she doesn't run away from them. In my opinion she would be a great role model for us - women.

"When trouble comes your way, and it will, don't run away from it. Stand your ground, even if you're cut to pieces."
- Bathsheba Everdene

What I love about this book is the insight is gives me in the life of farmers during the Victorian era. There isn't much dialogue in the book. Thomas Hardy tells the story from describing the situation instead through conversations which, in my opinion, is harder to read than stories that are for a large part dialogue. It took me fairly long to read this book, but I enjoyed every minute of it. I found it hard to get into the story in the beginning. However later on I was fully invested. I would like to warn people whose native language isn't English - like mine - it can be quite difficult to understand completely. 

I don't want to spoil too much of the plot, but the story is dependent on the choices Bathsheba and her three 'love interests' make. I use the therm love interest very loosely, for the reason that in general Bathsheba herself doesn't sees them as love interests. Some of the characters will make decisions that you don't agree with and sometimes you get annoyed with the actions of another. But it isn't a good book when you are not emotionally invested in the story. 

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

Overall it was a fantastic read. It felt me feeling a little bit confused, because I am not sure with novel I like better: Pride and Prejudice or Far from the madding Crowd. This is a big deal considering I absolutely love Pride and Prejudice and read it again every year. I recommend Far from the madding crowd to people who love classics, don't mind few dialogue and subtle romance. I would absolutely read this book again, and again and again..... especially in the summer.

Jana Pashovska

Couldn't put it down. Thomas Hardy is a true master of the written word.

Raya 

"Love is a possible strength in an actual weakness."

Power, treachery, transcendence, patience, love and fate are some of the key themes present in this novel which announced Hardy's arrival as a great writer. 
The novel encircles Bathsheba Everdeen, a handsome young woman and her three suitors. The three men are the loyal shepherd Gabriel Oak, the lonely neighbour William Boldwood and the profligate soldier Sergeant Troy. Bathsheba falls prey to her own caprice and willfulness and is soon met by the force of refusal and self-knowledge. Hardy's explicit scenic details of rural England is a major motif which replenishes the story that simultaneously talks about themes like rural poverty and rejection. Through Bathsheba's metacognitive journey in choosing who is the right man for her, Hardy brings forth his personal take on sexual love and romance in general. 'Romance' he says, 'should grow up in the interstices of a mass of hard prosaic reality'. So whom will Bathsheba finally choose ? That's the question which lingers on inside the mind of the absorbed reader (unless you've watched the adaptation beforehand) while making their way through Hardy's remarkable storytelling. 

This was the first novel by Thomas Hardy I've read and I am glad I chose this one. It's a book which is less om pain and more on the strength of love and resilience in the face of unfortunate events. The heroine might come of as unlikeable since she is this proud and temperamental woman who commits a number of careless mistakes, but that's what makes her all the more real. 
To me this book is more about Bathsheba's self awareness than the coexisting romantic subplot. Hardy truly understood women somehow.

Finally, It's a tale which you would want to return to as often as you can. If you are new to reading Hardy, then consider starting with this one and who knows, may be you shall have a new favourite book in your hand.

Far from the Madding Crowd was the first of Hardy's novels to give the name of Wessex to the landscape of the south-west of England, and the first to gain him widespread popularity. The story of the wooing of Bathsheba Everdene by three suitors is here presented in a critical text with a new introduction, bibliography and chronology.

Far From the Madding Crowd

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