She insists on working as long a day as her employees, in overseeing every operation on the farm and is not above getting her hands dirty in farm work. She dismisses the existing bailiff and declares she needs no replacement as she will manage the farm herself. Desperate for employment, Gabriel must bury his past feelings for Bathsheba and accept that, as their fortunes have changed, they are no longer social equals.īathsheba’s conduct as lady farmer soon attracts a lot of attention. To his surprise, the farmer is Bathsheba who has come into an inheritance and finds herself owning a moderately sized farm. An opportunity arrives when Gabriel is able to play a lead hand in saving a farm’s crop from ruin and establish favour with the farmer. Not long after, disaster strikes as George’s son drives his flock to their deaths and ten years of Gabriel’s striving towards independence is ruined.įorced to start over, Gabriel takes to the road to try and find work as a bailiff or even just as a shepherd, but the story of his decline turns off prospective employers. He soon learns that Bathsheba has left the locale and is unsure if she will ever return. Though disheartened, Gabriel is not one to dwell on such matters. I hate to be thought men’s property in that way – though possibly I shall be to be had some day. Bathsheba sees herself as a wild and independent woman and does not want to have a husband constantly around her. Though she has no other suitors, she does not love him back and his vision of their life together does not appeal to her. His proposal of marriage, however, is rejected. Though his first impressions of Bathsheba Everdene is that she is a vain, possibly immodest, young woman who exceeds him in education if not in social class, he finds himself inescapably drawn to her. With the arrival of a young woman to his environs, Gabriel finds his thoughts affected, his heart provoked. Not yet of independent means, his knowledge, fastidiousness and strong work ethic appears to ensure a prosperous future for him. His only companions are his two sheep dogs the reliable but old George and George’s energetic but disobedient unnamed son. The hard life out of doors has made Gabriel look older than his 28 years.

Gabriel Oak, a sheep farmer with a modest sized farm, lives a solitary existence consisting of long days of unending toil. This edition uses the original text for the first time showcasing Hardy’s satire of the social and religious values of his period.

A fast-paced plot with well-fleshed characters, building to unforgettable scenes of great drama and emotion and leaving much food for thought. Far from the Madding Crowd is perhaps destined to become one of my favourite novels.

Far from the maddening crowds