Far from the Madding Crowd

Far From the Madding Crowd is Thomas Hardy’s fourth novel and his first major literary success. Gabriel Oak is a young shepherd. He falls in love with Bathsheba Everdene a proud beauty. She comes to like him well enough but when he makes her an unadorned offer of marriage she refuses. After a few months she moves off. When next they meet their circumstances have changed drastically Gabriel is ruined. He seeks employment at a work fair in the town of Casterbridge. When he finds none he heads to another fair. On the way he happens upon a dangerous fire on a farm and helps in putting it out. When the veiled owner comes to thank him he asks if she needs a shepherd. She uncovers her face and reveals herself to be none other than Bathsheba.