Far from the Madding Crowd

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. 107 1895, Second Edition, extensively revised by Thomas Hardy. Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy Contents 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 VIII. The Malthouse—The Chat—News Chapter IX. The Homestead—A Visitor—Half-Confidences 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 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 XXVIII. The Hollow Amid the Ferns Chapter XXIX. Particulars of a Twilight Walk Chapter XXX. Hot Cheeks and Tearful Eyes Chapter XXXVI. Wealth in Jeopardy—The Revel Chapter XXXVII. The Storm—The Two Together Chapter XXXVIII. Rain—One Solitary Meets Another Chapter XLI. Suspicion—Fanny Is Sent For Chapter XLII. Joseph and His Burden—Buck’s Head 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 LV. The March Following—“Bathsheba Boldwood” Chapter LVI. Beauty in Loneliness—After All Chapter LVII. A Foggy Night and Morning—Conclusion Notes PREFACE In reprinting this story for a new edition I am reminded that it was in the chapters of “Far from the Madding Crowd,” as they appeared month by month in a popular magazine, that I first ventured to adopt the word “Wessex” from the pages of early English history, and give it a fictitious significance as the existing name of the district once included in that extinct kingdom. The series of novels I projected being mainly of the kind