Thomas Hardy 
Far From the Madding Crowd 

Thomas Hardy’s fourth novel, ‘Far From the Madding Crowd’, is a classic portrayal of 19th-century rural English life. It is the story of Bathsheba Everdene, a vain young woman, who comes to live with her aunt and uncle. There she is courted by three gentleman: Gabriel Oak–a would be shepherd, William Boldwood–a farmer, and Sergeant Francis Troy. A tragic tale of love, ‘Far From the Madding Crowd’ is one the greatest novels ever written, rich with emotion and pathos.