Thomas Hardys fourth novel and first major literary success Far from the Madding Crowd tells the story of Gabriel Oak a young shepherd and Bathsheba Everdene a proud and beautiful young woman Their paths cross several times throughout their lives helping one another even as they are plagued by misunderstandings and misfortunes including bad marriages secrets and loss Though the novel contains violence and tragedy its overall themes and mood are more optimistic than many of Hardys later and darker novels
