Far from the Madding Crowd

1874

Hardy's 1874 novel of Bathsheba Everdene, who inherits a Wessex farm and runs it herself, and the three men who want her: the shepherd Gabriel Oak, the neighbouring farmer Boldwood, and Sergeant Troy. A valentine sent as a joke sets most of the tragedy in motion.

Preface
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
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 XXVII Hiving the Bees
Chapter XXVIII The Hollow Amid the Ferns
Chapter XXIX Particulars of a Twilight Walk
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
Chapter XLVI The Gurgoyle: Its Doings
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—Horæ Momento
Chapter LIV After the Shock
Chapter LV The March Following—“Bathsheba Boldwood”
Chapter LVI Beauty in Loneliness—After All
Chapter LVII A Foggy Night and Morning—Conclusion