Far From The Madding Crowd | Review

With the upcoming adaption of ‘Far from the madding crowd’ coming up I thought I would review the book. The novel is Thomas Hardy’s fourth book, published in 1874; the first I have delved into. With it being extremely critically acclaimed I thought I would have to read one sooner or later and this was the plot that drew my attention like a moth to a flame. 

It is based around the love life of the female protagonist ‘Bathsheba Everdene', a proud beauty who has a fair share of suitors. Three to name. Gabriel Oak is the first of these in which we meet, he is a young Shepard who owns a sheep farm with frugal savings and a loan. He comes to meet the heroine whilst she is living with her aunt, Mrs Hurst. From there he falls madly in love with her. Bathsheba comes to like Gabriel well enough, and even saves his life once, but when he makes her an unadorned offer of marriage, she refuses; she values her independence too much and him too little. Gabriel's blunt protestations only serve to drive her to haughtiness. After a few days, she moves to Weatherbury, a village some miles off.

Then we meet the next of three, the lonely and ageing, William Boldwood. His obsession with Bathsheba starts with glances and a joking valentine. Featuring the words ‘marry me’, Bathsheba sends it, Boldwood, not realising it is a jest valentine becomes bewitched by her and too proposes marriage. She toys with the idea as he is a known eligible bachelor and would give her a good reputation but doesn't confirm. At this point Bathsheba’s sheep are falling and she calls for Gabriel to help, as he is the only one who knows how.

Little after Gabriel comes to Weatherbury him and Bathsheba become good friends. Then the third of the three admirers arises. Troy. Sargent Troy turns up to the village and meets Bathsheba, upon arrival Bathsheba thinks little of him, but this dislike turns into infatuation and she is drawn to his swordsmanship and masculinity. 

Even though I, personally, am not a great lover of ‘love novels’ this is one, I would take great pleasure in reading again. As my first Hardy book, I was impressed with my choice, as it didn't fail to keep me going back to read more and more. Hooked. The main characters involved offered an array of differentiation, bringing courage, jealousy and greed as some of many different features. However, I don't think the character 'Bathsheba' offers enough credibility. This notion arises because she is seen as a strong, independent woman; the way that at the beginning of the novel, she is penniless, but she quickly inherits and learns to run a farm in Weatherbury, where most of the novel takes place- is one of the reasons for this labelling . Although she is perceived to be tenacious in mind she also has a flaw of vanity. This is a direct opposite of the strengthening quality she claims to have. This defect can be most noted when she falls for Troy, over the kinder Gabriel and the more substantial William. In a way she could be related to the more modern ‘Katniss Everdene’, who possesses the same last name, share of suitors and a strong level head.

Aside from the characters created, the sheer plot line and interlocking of events (which I won't reveal for fear of spoiling) enable this novel to surpass many others like it. I would advise lovers of Victorian novels, or people who are skeptical and thinking of reading some of this genre, to indulge in the fictional haven that is 'Far from the madding crowd'. 

* * * *