Cover of Far from the Madding Crowd

Far from the Madding Crowd

by Thomas Hardy

First published
1874
Reading level
Plain English
Price
Free

About the book

"Far from the Madding Crowd" by Thomas Hardy is a novel published in 1874. It follows the independent Bathsheba Everdene, who inherits a farm in rural England and attracts three very different suitors: the faithful shepherd Gabriel Oak, the obsessive gentleman farmer William Boldwood, and the dashing but reckless Sergeant Frank Troy. Set against the backdrop of Victorian farming life, this tale of love, honor, and betrayal explores the consequences of impulsive choices and the complexity of the human heart.

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

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #107. Far from the Madding Crowd on Wikipedia.

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