Product Description

Independent and spirited Bathsheba Everdene has come to Weatherbury to take up her position as a farmer on the largest estate in the area. Her bold presence draws three very different suitors: the gentleman-farmer Boldwood, soldier-seducer Sergeant Troy and the devoted shepherd Gabriel Oak. Each, in contrasting ways, unsettles her decisions and complicates her life, and tragedy ensues, threatening the stability of the whole community. The first of his works set in Wessex, Hardy's novel of swift passion and slow courtship is imbued with his evocative descriptions of rural life and landscapes, and with unflinching honesty about sexual relationships.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2946 in Books
• Published on: 1994-03-31
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Synopsis
Independent and spirited Bathsheba Everdene has come to Weatherbury to take up her position as a farmer on the largest estate in the area. Her bold presence draws three very different suitors: the gentleman-farmer Boldwood, soldier-seducer Sergeant Troy and the devoted shepherd Gabriel Oak. Each, in contrasting ways, unsettles her decisions and complicates her life, and tragedy ensues, threatening the stability of the whole community. The first of his works set in Wessex, Hardy's novel of swift passion and slow courtship is imbued with his evocative descriptions of rural life and landscapes, and with unflinching honesty about sexual relationships.

Customer Reviews

This book destroyed my faith in literature
While I was at school I was required to read this book. Prior to reading this book I read at least 1 book a week, much of my free time was devoted to reading. This book is so terrible it managed to put me off reading for approximately two years.

I have wondered why this book is considered a "classic", and why it is required reading in schools. The only reason I can fathom is that people love his rambling descriptions of scenery. Most of this novel is devoted to this constant overblown description of scenery which is to the hideous detriment of the plot and character development in the novel.

The characters have less depth than the paper on which their trivial lives are chronicled on. The plot is extremely slow, because you have to wait for each tuft of grass to be described before the story moves on. The characters have no likeable qualities at all, and so you cannot even garner the merest sympathy for their plight.

His dialogue lacks wit, his story lacks substance. His use of language is well developed, however, I would point to a Mark Twain quote "Does he really think big emotions come from big words?". Use of language should be to the enhancement of a novel, I would suggest this is not the case in this work.

Thomas Hardy's rambling depth of description lends itself to poetry, which is an art form I feel he shows great ability in, but as a novelist I despise his work.

Far From the Madding Crowd: Sensory Heaven!
Reading this novel again in 36 degrees of heat in Tunisia was a delightful and slightly unusual experience! As I sat moderately baking in occasional shade, Bathsheba and Oak wrestled out their very pragmatic romance amidst the debris and lives of other characters whose impracticality and passion proves their undoing. The novel recommends survival through work and co-operation and this core value in the narrative far from being dull and tame compared to the heated, reckless drives of others,provides humour and finally healing. The scenes where Oak saves the gas ridden sheep and the stacks communicate Oak's consummate competence and care and Hardy 's sensory skills are marvellously suggestive and psychologically apt:

'He felt a zephyr curling about his cheek and turned.It was Bathsheba's breath - she had followed him, and was looking into the same chink.'

Far From The Madding Crowd is full of 'peeping tom' moments where characters watch each other through hedges,chinks and doors! This moment is beautifully laid out, the metaphor 'zephyr' registers the magic of Bathsheba's physicality...even more, her very breath, her life force enchants Oak. She is as special and magical to Oak as any legend from the Greeks. The simplicity of this shared watching explores their natural equality and the unconscious attraction of Bathsheba for Oak. How beautifully erotic is this scene and yet how it reveals their hesitancy and delay.

Hardy allows Bathsheba her eventual happiness which is rare indeed in the so-called 'great' novels, and he is also astute in granting Bathsheba autonomy in characterisation. She remains true to her perverse, challenging self and we do not see a shadowy, chastened figure at the end, though this Bathsheba has learnt about consequences!

' I have thought so much more of you since I fancied you did not want even to see me again.'

Human nature is perverse! This admission is fully in keeping Bathsheba's vanity and wilfulness. Yet is also reinforces the honesty and intimacy that has existed between them. Such intimacy elevates their relationship and makes their future marriage and happiness certain.

A final glimpse, simply because it is highly Impressionistic and tender and would not be out of keeping in a Katherine Mansfield story or a Monet painting:

'Ten minutes later, a large and smaller umbrella might have been seen moving from the same door, and through the mist along the road to the church.'

The tenderness of the ordinary here is palpable. Oak and Bathsheba are granted some privacy away from the speculative eye of reader and community and under their umbrelllas remains sanctuary and promise!

Wonderful!

for all southerners
Most of my contempories fall roughly into 2 categories - northeners or southerners, and almost without exception I find the northerners prefer Bronte and the rest of us love Hardy. I am a big fan of Hardy - I grew up in "Wessex" and the description of the landscape is evocative of my home. (I know many find long descriptive passages dull, but stick with it and you will not be disappointed) Whilst I prefer "Tess" (tragic endings being my thing), this novel is so good I named my son "Gabriel" after Gabriel Oak. The characters are full of depth (something lacking in Dickins) and it provides a good snapshot of the time. It's a beautiful read.