Far from the Madding Crowd

Thomas Hardy 1840—1928 — an English novelist, poet, and author of works that shocked Victorian society: «Tess of the d'Urbervilles» and «Jude the Obscure». Coming from a provincial family of stonemasons, Hardy decided to continue his education — he studied architecture, painting, Latin, and in his spare time worked as a violinist at rural weddings. «Far from the Madding Crowd» is the story of an independent farm mistress pursued by three suitors: a wealthy gentleman, a desperate sergeant, and a sensible farmer. A difficult choice, the eternal drama of male and female relationships, intrigues, secrets, and true passion in a novel that became the author's first literary success. Hardy remarkably struck a chord in the souls of readers across three centuries. His novel is still considered scandalous and undermining the foundations of contemporary society.