Far From the Madding Crowd in Read, Share, Enjoy: Classics and More!

Mar 28, 2017 Whitney rated it it was ok · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Oh wow. The "only" Thomas Hardy novel with a happy ending. And readers may define "happy" as the resolution seeing a marriage and the protagonist Not Dead by some horrible event.

We do see recurring events of protagonist Bathsheba Everdene doing what she wants, coming into a convenient fortune, acquiring some rare doses of freedom, but Do Not Worry, readers. She speaks with two or three well-meaning suitors who inform her how much she is screwing up her moral fabric, and then she cries.

I'll argue Oh wow. The "only" Thomas Hardy novel with a happy ending. And readers may define "happy" as the resolution seeing a marriage and the protagonist Not Dead by some horrible event.

We do see recurring events of protagonist Bathsheba Everdene doing what she wants, coming into a convenient fortune, acquiring some rare doses of freedom, but Do Not Worry, readers. She speaks with two or three well-meaning suitors who inform her how much she is screwing up her moral fabric, and then she cries.

I'll argue here that the Real protagonist is Gabriel Sheep-Man. This is not his real last name, but I do not care what his real last name is. Truly, he is a catch, though. He is honest and Not too good-looking. This is a good feature for a man to have (take note ladies). He most likely won't get stolen away by greedy harpies. His honesty is touching to a bittersweet extent. When he makes a marriage proposal, he murmurs, "I'm only an every day sort of man, and my only chance was in being the first comer . . ." When he learns of his imminent rejection, he takes "himself off home-along" without complaint. Bless.

He knows a lot about sheep, but he is oddly cursed by his own kind-heartedness. He decides to Not Kill a sheepdog, even though the sheepdog is Not Good with herding the sheep. When the sheepdog chases the entire herd off a cliff, good Gabriel is finally forced to do away with said dog, since the dog cannot function in his service. It was a bummer. But this is DEFINITELY a touch of Classic Hardy for the readers who demand doom and gloom. Do not worry. It is here.

More classic Hardy misfortune is written in the character of Fanny Robin, who tragically believes herself to be the wife of some idiot soldier. What's his name? Who cares. Soldier, because he is hawt, marries Bathsheba because she is deceived into thinking good looks equate with good morals. Luckily, Soldier dies horribly before he can ruin Bathsheba, but not before knocking up poor Fanny Robin, who believes herself rightfully married.

I really hate it when Hardy pulls his shit, dancing around the idea of pregnancy. Fanny Robin lives and speaks for several chapters, and nowhere do readers see hints that she is pregnant. The only way it becomes obvious is when she dies mysteriously and someone labels her coffin "Fanny Robin and child." Thomas Hardy, this is unacceptable. I suspected that poor Fanny had that trouble of a "delicate condition" when she was crying and speaking to her idiot Soldier impregnator, but I only guessed because you have done this TOO MANY TIMES, Hardy! Women mysteriously miserable and dead. And suddenly magically appears a dead baby too.

Hardy writes like pregnant women keep their unborn kids in detachable pouches somewhere. ...more

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Aug 31, 2019 Mark rated it it was amazing

I have listened to Tess, as well. Both the story and the reader surpassed the former. I recommend this production to anyone who likes a good 19th century story. Hardy’s wonderful expressiveness made me smile. Clever use of language and dialogue. His characters rival Dickens’ and his story twists like Conan Doyle.

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