Far from the Madding Crowd

Thomas HardyMar 2015

3.9

Word count: 166K words
Chapters: 67

Summary

Every volume in the Collector's Library series includes a specially commissioned Afterword, a brief biography of the author, and a further reading list. In this edition, the Afterword is contributed by David Stuart Davies, a leading UK playwright, novelist, and eminent Sherlockian. The series is designed for readers who love beautiful, collectible editions of beloved classics, pairing each text with scholarly extras that deepen the reading experience. With its distinguished Afterword and helpful supplementary material, this volume offers both enjoyment and insight, making it a treasured addition to any home library.

Editor's review

Far from the Madding Crowd is Hardy's representative work set in a rural world, where pastoral scenery and human fates mirror each other, offering both idyllic brightness and the melancholy of realistic turns. The novel centers on love, marriage, and female autonomy; its plot does not rely on coincidence but lets character and choice drive relationships step by step, making for a thought-provoking read. This edition includes a specially commissioned afterword by David Stuart Davies, an author biography, and a further reading list, offering supplementary material beyond the main text. It suits continuous reading in quiet, uninterrupted stretches and works as an entry point or a rereading text for Victorian English fiction. First-time readers may follow the relationships and rural life details first, then note the narrator's evaluations of nature, labor, and emotion; the edition's appendices can be revisited after finishing for a fuller understanding.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy Victorian English fiction and are willing to read character relationships closely
Readers interested in rural life, nature writing, and themes of women's fate
Readers of the English original who need edition appendices to aid understanding of the background
Literature enthusiasts seeking a systematic reading starting point with a Hardy masterpiece

Not a good fit for

Genre fiction readers used to fast-paced, plot-driven narratives
Readers who only want plot summaries and avoid lengthy landscape descriptions
Readers expecting a modern urban setting or a light comic atmosphere

Reading tips

Read through in chapter order first; don't rush to sort out every character name—let the figures become clear through events.
At key emotional choices, pause and look back at earlier foreshadowing to see how character drives fate.
After finishing, read the afterword and author biography to place the work in Hardy's creative context.
If reading the English original, keep pen and paper to note place names and character titles, reducing the burden of recognition.

Copyright information
PREFACE
Part 1
CHAPTER I Description of Farmer Oak—An Incident
CHAPTER II NIGHT—THE FLOCK—AN INTERIOR—ANOTHER INTERIOR
CHAPTER III A GIRL ON HORSEBACK—CONVERSATION
CHAPTER IV GABRIEL'S RESOLVE—THE VISIT—THE MISTAKE
CHAPTER V DEPARTURE OF BATHSHEBA—A PASTORAL TRAGEDY
CHAPTER VI THE FAIR—THE JOURNEY—THE FIRE
CHAPTER VII RECOGNITION—A TIMID GIRL
CHAPTER VIII THE MALTHOUSE—THE CHAT—NEWS
CHAPTER IX THE HOMESTEAD—A VISITOR—HALF-CONFIDENCES
CHAPTER X MISTRESS AND MEN
CHAPTER XI OUTSIDE THE BARRACKS—SNOW—A MEETING
CHAPTER XII FARMERS—A RULE—AN EXCEPTION
CHAPTER XIII SORTES SANCTORUM—THE VALENTINE
Part 2
CHAPTER XIV EFFECT OF THE LETTER—SUNRISE
CHAPTER XV A MORNING MEETING—THE LETTER AGAIN
CHAPTER XVI ALL SAINTS' AND ALL SOULS'
CHAPTER XVII IN THE MARKET-PLACE
CHAPTER XVIII Boldwood in Meditation—Regret
CHAPTER XIX THE SHEEP-WASHING—THE OFFER
CHAPTER XX PERPLEXITY—GRINDING THE SHEARS—A QUARREL
CHAPTER XXI TROUBLES IN THE FOLD—A MESSAGE
CHAPTER XXII THE GREAT BARN AND THE SHEEP-SHEARERS
CHAPTER XXIII EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION
CHAPTER XXIV THE SAME NIGHT—THE FIR PLANTATION
CHAPTER XXV THE NEW ACQUAINTANCE DESCRIBED
CHAPTER XXVI SCENE ON THE VERGE OF THE HAY-MEAD
CHAPTER II HIVING THE BEES
CHAPTER XXVIII THE HOLLOW AMID THE FERNS
CHAPTER XXIX PARTICULARS OF A TWILIGHT WALK
Part 3
CHAPTER XXX HOT CHEEKS AND TEARFUL EYES
CHAPTER XXXI BLAME—FURY
CHAPTER XXXII NIGHT—HORSES TRAMPING
CHAPTER XXXIII IN THE SUN—A HARBINGER
CHAPTER XXXIV HOME AGAIN—A TRICKSTER
CHAPTER XXXV AT AN UPPER WINDOW
CHAPTER XXXVI WEALTH IN JEOPARDY—THE REVEL
CHAPTER XXXVII THE STORM—THE TWO TOGETHER
CHAPTER XXXVIII RAIN—ONE SOLITARY MEETS ANOTHER
CHAPTER XXXIX COMING HOME—A CRY
CHAPTER XL ON CASTERBRIDGE HIGHWAY
CHAPTER XLI SUSPICION—FANNY IS SENT FOR
CHAPTER XLII JOSEPH AND HIS BURDEN—BUCK'S HEAD
CHAPTER XLIII FANNY'S REVENGE
CHAPTER XLIV UNDER A TREE—REACTION
CHAPTER XLV TROY'S ROMANTICISM
Part 4
CHAPTER XLVI THE GURGOYLE: ITS DOINGS
Erected by Francis Troy In Beloved Memory of Fanny Robin
CHAPTER XLVII ADVENTURES BY THE SHORE
CHAPTER XLVIII DOUBTS ARISE—DOUBTS LINGER
CHAPTER XLIX OAK'S ADVANCEMENT—A GREAT HOPE
CHAPTER L THE SHEEP FAIR—TROY TOUCHES HIS WIFE'S HAND
CHAPTER LI BATHSHEBA TALKS WITH HER OUTRIDER
CHAPTER LII CONVERGING COURSES
CHAPTER LIII CONCURRITUR—HORAE MOMENTO
CHAPTER LIV AFTER THE SHOCK
CHAPTER LV THE MARCH FOLLOWING—"BATHSHEBA BOLDWOOD"
CHAPTER LVI BEAUTY IN LONELINESS—AFTER ALL
Erected by Francis Troy In Beloved Memory of Fanny Robin Who
In the Same Grave lie The Remains of the aforesaid Francis T
CHAPTER LVII A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION
NOTES

FAQ

What supplementary content does this edition of Far from the Madding Crowd include?

Beyond the main text, it includes an afterword by David Stuart Davies, an author biography, and a further reading list—suitable for readers who wish to deepen their understanding with the edition's appendices.

I haven't read Hardy before—can I start with this book?

Yes. It is one of Hardy's most commonly recommended representative works, centered on rural life and human emotion; first-time readers need no prior background in Hardy studies. If the length concerns you, read the first few chapters to get a feel for the narrative pace.

Do I need to know Victorian history to read this book?

No systematic prior study is necessary, but understanding the social structure, marriage views, and agricultural life of 19th-century rural England will make the characters' choices and conflicts easier to grasp; the author biography and further reading list in this edition can serve as supplements.

Is it suitable as English-learning material?

It can serve as advanced reading, but Hardy's descriptions are delicate and his sentences long, making vocabulary and syntax difficult for beginners; it is best attempted after gaining some experience with long English fiction, with annotations or a guide.

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About the author

Thomas Hardy Author

Thomas Hardy was an important English novelist and poet of the Victorian era. The collection holds fifteen of his works, including several English editions of Jude the Obscure, the full English text of Tess of the d'Urbervilles, and Far from the Madding Crowd. His novels are mostly set in the rural southwest of England and portray ordinary people struggling between fate, social convention, and personal desire. His tone is somber yet compassionate, and his critique of marriage, class, and the educational system is especially sharp. The works are often classed as foreign literature and classics, with an element of inspirational growth. Because public information is limited, biographical details are omitted here, with emphasis placed on his themes and literary influence.