Customer Reviews

Far from the Madding Crowd (Oxford World's Classics)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Far From The Madding Crowd" is the story of Gabriel Oak who lives a simple life as a lowly shepherd on the farm of the woman he once, unsuccessfully, proposed to, back when he was a man of some substance, having his own prosperous farm until tragic events lost it to him. The main elements of the story are the unfortunate, often tragic ramifications of Bathsheba Everdene's thoughtless, vanity-driven actions, and the steadfast, selfless love she has engendered in Oak, who undergoes much anonymous, behind-the-scenes labor in order to make smooth the rocky path Bathsheba has embarked upon.

As one reviewer already mentioned, I do believe Hardy chose the unusual name of "Bathsheba" for his heroine because of her likeness to Bathsheba of the Bible; a beautiful, sought-after woman who unwittingly causes catastrophe for the men who love her. I will go further to suggest that Gabriel Oak's name was deliberate; he is a "guardian angel" of sorts who works on behalf of Bathsheba, and his character is strong, solid and dependable as a stalwart oak.

Bathsheba's vanity, poor judgment and thoughtless behavior bring about the destruction of two men she becomes entangled with, and the once vital and carefree girl grows into a grave and repentant woman who finally begins to realize the wisdom and worth of her long-ago suitor, now servant, Oak.

The novel is rich with pathos, romance, tragedy, and even absurdity (Oak's fellow laborers on the farm are a comical lot, and their hilarious conversations are a pleasant occasional reprieve from the dark world of Bathsheba and her lovers.)

A great Hardy novel with an unusually happy ending.

I have never read a Thomas Hardy novel and so have nothing to compare this to but I found Madding to be a marvelous love story. And what is more, it's a love story that you can actually believe because the characters are so human.

The protagonist of sorts is Gabriel Oak, as nice a fellow as ever there was. He falls in love with the wild and flirtatious Bathsheba (she hates her name too, I think it was meant to be symbollic, as in David and Bathsheba) Of course, she will not even consider the stoic Gabriel and thus begins a career of flirtation and romance that will end in tragedy. Throughout it all, Gabriel is in the background, helping her when she needs him, advising her when she wants it but he knows he has no chance of winning her.

Gabriel's character is a marvel. Even though he is a simple farmer, he has an artistic soul, it is clear from the way he thinks about stars, sheep, even toads. It sounds corny but he is at one with nature.

As for Bathsheba, I won't give away anything but let's just say she learns her lesson the hard way. Even though she is a coquette to her fingertips, you always like her and understand why three men would all find themselves in love (or infatuated in the case of one) with her.

The books stately but never boring pace makes it ideal for a winter day when you are snowed in or something like that. I savoured it over a weekend and am planning to read it again.

In Far from the Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy introduces us to the precarious "love square". At the core of all the turmoil is beautiful farm girl, Bathsheba Everdene - spirited, vain, intelligent and adept at toying with the hearts of men. Inevitably beguiled by her charms a humble and kind farmer, Gabriel Oak, fervently attempts to win Bathsheba's affections. Enter the competition: (suitor#2) Farmer Boldwood - a wealthy and temperate middle-aged man respected in the community, eventually plunges into maniacal obsession at the mere possibility of making the beloved Miss Everdene his wife; and (suitor#3) Sergeant Francis Troy - a dashing young philandering soldier, with his share of inner demons, ruthlessness and vanity, vies for Bathsheba's hand in marriage. Bathsheba's ultimate decision, and the cataclysm it evokes, lies at the epicenter of Hardy's unforgettable ambivalent story.

Far from the Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy's fourth novel, saw publication in 1874 and earned him widespread popularity as a writer. A delicately woven tale of unrequited love and regret, set in the mid-19th century, Far From the Madding Crowd is a masterpiece of pure story-telling. Hardy's classic style is a pleasure to read as he masterfully brings his characters and their dealings to life. I would not hesitate to say it definitely captured my heart as another favourite.

Modern writers of "literature" could learn a lesson or two from Mr. Thomas Hardy. This genius British writer created a literature profoundly tied to his fictional Wessex, yet so supremely universal to all humanity. The authentic rustic dialogue that Hardy employs to characterize his literary creations may be off-putting to the impatient reader of the 21st century. The key to appreciating this approach is to realize just why Hardy does this. The larger actions of the plot are sometimes not witnessed and merely refered to and the reader sometimes doesn't get the direct version of events. This makes for an exciting and satisfying read. Hardy creates the illusion of reality by approaching his writing in this way. Consequently, his novels become historical documents of language, culture and customs of 19th-century England.

The story of Bathsheba and her 3 very different suitors is a story of the maturation and dynamic nature of the human (female)heart. Gabriel Oak is the ultimate underdog and the patient, loyal servant to his proud mistress. The complicated affairs of the heart that twist and turn throughout the novel, sometimes with purposeful intent, and othertimes with chaotic uncertainty, prove Hardy's masterful use of the pen in characterizing the depth of human feelings with regard to love, loyalty, hope, dreams and oftentimes, tragedy. Modern writers normally cannot find this depth that Hardy seemingly easily includes in his writing. Today's writers often turn to explicit and direct descriptions that are neither aesthetically pleasing or masterful. Hardy, on the other hand, is subtle, restrained at times and then powerful in brief and intense moments. This is a thril for readers. The coffin scene in this novel is as powerful as anything I've ever read.

As you can see, I highly recommend this novel and gratefully turn to novels such as this one for a profound lesson on humanity, as well as an appreciation for the beauty of the English language. In my opinion, this novel is far from the modern crud out there!

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD, the first of Thomas Hardy's 'Wessex' novels, tells the story of a small troupe of farmers and their workers in a sheep-farming community in the fictitious county of 'Wessex'.

Gabriel Oak has been a shepherd since his teenage years, as his father was before him, but he's moved up and purchased, on credit, his own farm. The work is hard, but he is confident that he will succeed, and takes pride in being his own man. Then one day, a new woman arrives in town. Bathsheeba Everdene is beautiful, headstrong, intelligent, but incurably vain; Farmer Oak falls in love with her immediately. A few months later, he proposes, and is utterly rejected. Bathsheeba moves on to care for her dying uncle, and take over his farm. Gabriel continues farming - until tragedy strikes.

He and Bathsheeba will cross paths again, this time not as lovers, but as mistress and servant. Bathsheeba's beauty, vanity and impetuousness leave a trail of carnage in her wake, and Gabriel can only watch on as lives are destroyed, farms are ruined, and his own heart is crushed repeatedly.

Hardy is famous for his fatalism, and this is displayed no more than in the character of Bathsheba Everdene. She is not an evil person, as the above summary would suggest - but her stunning beauty and fierce intelligence combine with her vanity and impulsivity to create something like a force of nature, and though she means only good she seems to be able to do nothing but wrong by those who care for her. She has no more control over her nature than she does over the weather. One of the most interesting aspects of this character is that her vices - vanity, impulsivity, which Hardy attributes to her being young and beautiful - lead to the downfall of others, but she is continuously saved from downfall by her own intelligence and inner personal strength.

REal tragedy finally does strike Bathsheba, but rather than let it destroy her as retribution for her wicked ways, she grows from it. We may not be able to escape the hardship of life, Hardy seems to be saying, but we can grow and prosper by learning from it.

This was a fantastically entertaining book. The only warning that I could give with it is that it is slow-moving. The action comes in fits and spurts, and Hardy has a penchant for elaborate descriptions of the countryside, for farmhouses, churches and festivals. They are beautifully written, but take time to digest fully. Highly recommended.

Few masters have excelled Hardy's story-telling in Far From the Madding Crowd. This masterfully written work is undoubtedly one of the single finest exhibitions of the English language.

So, the novel's protagonist, is torn between three suitors. Yet, only through her experimentation in courtship with all three, and the suffering she consequently creates and endures, does she discover her proper mate.

This is a fine read for all lovers of great literature and should be particularly enjoyable for young ladies.

In "Far From The Maddening Crowd" Thomas Hardy, and his style, triumph. If you have never read Hardy this is the place to start. Be prepared for vivid descriptions of the surroundings and how they describe to you the person they surround.
I dare say, you will cheer for the heros and become frustrated with the actions of many, but all in all, you will walk away with hope and admiration for the story. Sit back have a cup of hot chocolate, put on some Copland and read this novel.

Simply put, the story is a love triangle involving one woman and three men. Which I suppose technically makes it a "love rectangle". The irresistible Bathsheba Everdene leaves a trail of emasculated destruction in her wake, until she inevitably meets her match. The story is a good one. However, the payoff comes not from the story - it comes from the descriptive language and wickedly accurate depiction of human character - or in some cases, lack thereof. I can only imagine that Mr. Hardy would have been an interesting man to have spent an evening with, over a few beers in the local pub. His well developed sense of humor and social justice shine through, and his descriptions of pre-Industrial Revolution England and spot-on assessments of human character make this book worth the effort and head-scratching that will sometimes be required of those not used to his flowery and very "English" writing style. Overall, highly recommended. I thought the ending had room for improvement. Perhaps Mr. Hardy had already worn himself out by the time he got to it? No problem, still 4 stars and highly recommended.

Far from a Madding Crowd, by Thomas Hardy, was a very well written book that is equivalent to common soap operas of today. Hardy's classical romantic describes to us and lets us depict if the woman is in power of love or if her need to control love will overpower her.
Bathsheba's love life is what the plot is based on in the story. Bathsheba is the main character and doesn't realize the effect she has on men and her number of admirers. Many typical elements in a woman's love life are represented through her romantic affairs. Hardy portrays to a `T' the relationship with Gabriel. He will be there for her if nothing else works out. Gabriel is kind-hearted and is honest excepting any problems that need to be solved. He is heroic in saving Bathsheba's life and her farm numerous times.
Bathsheba's relationship with Boldwood is a typical situation of an eager and curious girl wondering if she could accomplish snatching the handsome, wealthy man that every girl has her eye on. Bathsheba has her fun with Boldwood then pushes herself away from him because she doesn't want him now that she can have him. Hardy tends to make the reader feel bad for Bathsheba's love interests because she is a heartbreaker.
Bathsheba's third love interest, Troy, is a challenge to Bathsheba because he is not totally openhearted and devoted to her. Fanny, Troy's first love interest, will always be in the picture during the relationship. This makes Bathsheba nervous because she wanted Troy all to herself and seduces him to the fullest to try to get his devotion. Troy has the most effect on Bathsheba's heart and the most effect on her mental breakdown. He enjoys experimenting with women's emotions, which is new to Bathsheba because she is used to being the controlling one. Hardy's descriptions of Troy and Bathsheba's relationship makes his female readers relate to her directly.
In the end of the novel Bathsheba falls back on the man she thought she was too good for, Gabriel. Gabriel was her cushion from emotional strain caused by the two other men in the story. This shows women's pattern for motivation to get what she wants but return back to what feels natural.
I like Thomas Hardy's e depiction of how women can be in a love situation. I dislike how everything in the novel was Bathsheba's fault because it made the reader hate the main character, I didn't feel bad for Bathsheba at all through out the novel. I did though feel bad for the men she played.
Thomas Hardy was a brilliant observer of women and how they tend to function in love. He emotionally and physically caught the pattern that women most likely have towards men and took it to the extreme in the romantic novel, Far from a Madding Crowd.

This is a book that is too descriptive for its own good. I am currently reading this book for the Academic Decathalon and I find it long, uninteresting, and boring. It spends way too much time talking about how the individual trees are while not moving back to look at the forest.

I give it three stars for the story, because it is a classic, but overall, I did not enjoy it, because it was too darn long and descriptive. It was a drag for me.

My recommendation: if you like descriptive, thoughtful, where the underdog gets the girl, vanity type of books, I'd say go ahead and read this one, you'd enjoy it.

If you don't, stay away from the whiff.