How does it compare to audio works by the same author?
Excellent
Advantages:
The desriptions of 19th century rural traditions
Disadvantages:
Period drama
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Far from the Madding Crowd is a nineteenth century realist novel by Thomas Hardy. It is set in a timeless and protected rural area in Wessex, England. Hardy has even provided a map detailing the halls, farms and countryside that appear in the book. The map is drawn around actual landmarks set on the River Frome. The descriptions of the landscape are idyllic (so idyllic that if it was real I am sure "hiker" would be writing about a walk set around here in his magnificent set of reviews on country walks).
The book is a tribute to the pastoral. Hardy sets out to provide a true portrayal of pasroral life. There are detailed descriptions of the making of the different types of hay stacks, sheep shearing and washing.
It is a tale of love centered around a young, niave and headstrong Bathsheba Everdine who inherits her uncles's farm. Three men vie for her hand in marriage: the older respectable intense Bolderwood who is a local landowner, the young dashing red-coated Dragoon Sargent Troy and the hard-working relaible shepherd Gabriel Oak. I won't tell you the outcome of the various loves for fear of spoiling the read.
To give a taste for the book, I will relate a favorite scenes involving each of the suitors. Firstly, the scene when a solitary Oak battles against time as a storm threatens to destroy the prepared haystacks. As he tries to heroically save them, Bathsheba bravely joins him working at his side. Secondly, the scen were the Sargarent demonstrates his swordmanship prowess to Bathsheba flashing the sword around her body and cutting a snippet off her hair. And thirdly, when Bolderwood receives a Valentine Card sent by Bathsheba as a joke which sets off a desire and longing.
It is a moral story that deals with issues oincluding stealing, deceit, betrayal and pregnancy outside marriage. Hardy does not lecture these points but illustrates there effects in a dramatic storyline.
I would recommend this book to everyone. It is a delightful story. The descriptive lanscape and view of a farming society's traditions are insightive and nostalgic.
The book costs £1 - £2 and is widely available. It is relatively short by contemporary novel standards. What have you to loose?
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