Thomas Hardy's fourth novel, «Far From the Madding Crowd», is a classic portrayal of 19th-century rural English life. It is the story of Bathsheba Everdene, a vain young woman, who comes to live with her aunt and uncle. There she is courted by three gentleman: Gabriel Oak–a would be shepherd, William Boldwood–a farmer, and Sergeant Francis Troy. A tragic tale of love, «Far From the Madding Crowd» is one the greatest novels ever written, rich with emotion and pathos.
