Far From the Madding Crowd

With an essay by Ronald Blythe.

''I cannot allow any man to - to criticise my private conduct!'' she exclaimed. ''Nor will I for a minute.''

Hardy''s powerful novel of swift sexual passion and slow-burning loyalty centres on Bathsheba Everdene, a proud working woman whose life is complicated by three different men - respectable farmer Boldwood, seductive Sergeant Troy and devoted Gabriel - making he...