Book 27 || Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy Book 27 || Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy Book 27 || Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy Far from the Madding Crowd, published in 1874, is one of Thomas Hardy’s most beloved novels. Set in the fictional rural region of Wessex, the novel follows the life and romantic entanglements of Bathsheba Everdene, an independent and strong-willed woman who inherits a large farm. Bathsheba’s interactions with three very different suitors—Gabriel Oak, a humble shepherd; Sergeant Troy, a dashing and reckless soldier; and William Boldwood, a wealthy but emotionally reserved farmer—form the central conflict of the novel. Through this romantic triangle, Hardy explores themes of love, fate, social class, and the complexities of rural life in 19th-century England. Far from the Madding Crowd is noted f...