WeRead Powered by ReaderPub
Far from the Madding Crowd cover

Far from the Madding Crowd

Chapter 1: Far from the Madding Crowd
By Thomas Hardy
Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

British LiteratureNovels

About This Book

The novel follows Bathsheba Everdene, a proud and independent young woman who inherits a farm and navigates competing affections from a dependable shepherd, an obsessive neighbour, and a charismatic soldier. Set against detailed depictions of rural life, the narrative traces the consequences of choice and chance: steady labor, romantic misjudgments, escalating jealousy, and personal growth. Scenes alternate between pastoral calm and sudden crises—marketdays, harvests, storms, and reckonings—while recurring themes examine social standing, pride, responsibility, and the tensions between individual desire and communal expectation.

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Far from the Madding Crowd

This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: Far from the Madding Crowd

Author: Thomas Hardy

Release date: March 1, 1992 [eBook #27]
Most recently updated: August 6, 2021

Language: English

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD ***

There are two editions of this ebook in the Project Gutenberg collection. Various characteristics of each ebook are listed to aid in selecting the preferred file.
Click on any of the filenumbers below to quickly view each ebook.

27 1874, First Edition; illustrated.
1071895, Second Edition, extensively revised by Thomas Hardy.

Far from the Madding Crowd

by Thomas Hardy

AUTHOR OF
“A PAIR OF BLUE EYES,” “UNDER THE GREENWOOD TREE,” ETC.


WITH TWELVE ILLUSTRATIONS.

IN TWO VOLUMES


LONDON:
SMITH, ELDER & CO., 15, WATERLOO PLACE.
1874.

Contents

VOLUME I.
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. MELCHESTER MOOR—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—A VISIT
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
VOLUME II.
CHAPTER I. BLAME—FURY
CHAPTER II. NIGHT—HORSES TRAMPING
CHAPTER III. IN THE SUN—A HARBINGER
CHAPTER IV. HOME AGAIN—A JUGGLER
CHAPTER V. AT AN UPPER WINDOW
CHAPTER VI. WEALTH IN JEOPARDY—THE REVEL
CHAPTER VII. THE STORM—THE TWO TOGETHER
CHAPTER VIII. RAIN—ONE SOLITARY MEETS ANOTHER
CHAPTER IX. COMING HOME—A CRY
CHAPTER X. ON CASTERBRIDGE HIGHWAY
CHAPTER XI. SUSPICION—FANNY IS SENT FOR
CHAPTER XII. JOSEPH AND HIS BURDEN—BUCK’S HEAD
CHAPTER XIII. FANNY’S REVENGE
CHAPTER XIV. UNDER A TREE—REACTION
CHAPTER XV. TROY’S ROMANTICISM
CHAPTER XVI. THE GURGOYLE: ITS DOINGS
CHAPTER XVII. ADVENTURES BY THE SHORE
CHAPTER XVIII. DOUBTS ARISE—DOUBTS VANISH
CHAPTER XIX. OAK’S ADVANCEMENT—A GREAT HOPE
CHAPTER XX. THE SHEEP FAIR—TROY TOUCHES HIS WIFE’S HAND
CHAPTER XXI. BATHSHEBA TALKS WITH HER OUTRIDER
CHAPTER XXII. CONVERGING COURSES
CHAPTER XXIII. CONCURRITUR—HORÆ MOMENTO
CHAPTER XXIV. AFTER THE SHOCK
CHAPTER XXV. THE MARCH FOLLOWING—“BATHSHEBA BOLDWOOD”
CHAPTER XXVI. BEAUTY IN LONELINESS—AFTER ALL
CHAPTER XXVII. A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING—CONCLUSION

List of Illustrations

HANDS WERE LOOSENING HIS NECKERCHIEF.
“DO YOU HAPPEN TO WANT A SHEPPERD MA’AM?”
“GET THE FRONT DOOR KEY.” LIDDY FETCHED IT.
“I FEEL—ALMOST TOO MUCH—TO THINK,” HE SAID.
SHE STOOD UP IN THE WINDOW-OPENING, FACING THE MEN.
SHE TOOK UP HER POSITION AS DIRECTED.
BATSHEBA FLUNG HER HANDS TO HER FACE.
“THERE’S NOT A SOUL IN MY HOUSE BUT ME TO-NIGHT”.
SHE OPENED A GATE WITHIN WHICH WAS A HAYSTACK. UNDER THIS SHE SAT DOWN.
BENDING OVER FANNY ROBIN, HE GENTLY KISSED HER.
HE SAW A BATHER CARRIED ALONG IN THE CURRENT.
TROY NEXT ADVANCED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM AND TOOK OFF HIS CAP.