Far from the Madding Crowd | Two Weeks of Thomas Hardy

In which I talk about my 2nd favourite Thomas Hardy novel, Far from the Madding Crowd...
Catch up on Hardy Week: • Two Weeks of Thomas Hardy
Far from the Madding Crowd:
/ 31463.far_from_the_mad...
--General links--
My website: www.katielumsden.co.uk
Facebook: / justbooksandthings
Twitter: / katiejlumsden
Instragram: / katiejlumsden
Goodreads: / katie-lumsden
NaNoWriMo: nanowrimo.org/participants/kat...
Foyles Affiliate link: www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmi...
Email: [e-mail]

[@CatrionaReads]

Gabriel Oak is one of the only characters I've ever felt a "book crush" on, I love him so much! This book just swept me away when I read it, from the detail to the landscapes. I felt so much towards Bathsheba, even when you knew she was making a mistake all I felt was compassion. And when she has triumphant moments I had so much joy. I also love the Carrie Mulligan movie ❤️

[@katiejlumsden]

I love him too! The Carrie Mulligan film was great (she's one of my favourite actresses) although I also adore the 1998 TV film and highly recommend it.

[@jeffreykaufmann2867]

Catriona Reads I love the scene in FFTMC when Carey Mulligan is riding her horse and bends backwards to go thru the shrubbery.

[@richardbenitez7803]

Catriona Reads - I am reading Far From the Madding Crowd now with these Audible reading by these Brits that really know how to bring an intonation to all these male characters on the farm of 150 years ago. I listened to first three chapters three times. The part with where Gabriel Oak goes off to church as a fresh young sheep herder with grandfather’s watch in pocket is perfect. In contrast Bathsheba is checking herself in the mirror at a toll and oblivious to Gabriel’s contribution to allow passage is perfect.

[@evelinmenezes9313]

I love this novel! Who would have guessed that Hardy, who had such a painfully pessimistic view of the human condition, would write one of the best love stories in literature?

[@katiejlumsden]

I sometimes think he writes great love stories because he believed in love so much, just didn't think it lasted forever.

[@jessica-fcm]

I finished reading this yesterday, and today I spent all day unable to properly concentrate on anything because I was still in a post cathartic state, still processing and "tasting" this wonderful story, replaying everything I my head. Wonderful story!!! Ps: Gabriel oak is such a dreamy character

[@tigalbaby]

My first Hardy novel read when I was a teenager ( high school literature) . Your summary is brilliant . Hardy was a century ahead of his time for Bathsheba was like a CEO in a male dominated industry. Brilliant , dedicated , committed to success . But a woman physically attracted to the one who everyone knows is not good for her. Also Attracted to the old fashioned stability of the established older man . And of course dismisses the best man any woman could ever meet. She makes major mistakes . But so does the villainous Troy who really loves Fanny . Boldwood has my deepest sympathies . Finding love late in life and losing it would explain his irrational action . And of course Oak . For women out there , keep an eye out for the Oaks who will cross your path. Not flashy , overly handsome or dazzling . But he will carry you when you fall . And you will . Tend to you when sick and be there in your time of need . Alas many women overlook the Oaks . Bathsheba was lucky . Happy for her. Though many would say he was too good for her . I happen to agree with the many .

[@SunriseFireberry]

Hardy gets a lifetime achievement award for the most poetic descriptions of landscape in novels. How many Vic. novelists wrote good poetry besides Hardy? Why do you feel this quality was a rare knack?

[@katiejlumsden]

Emily Bronte and George Meredith were quite accomplished poets as well, and Oscar Wilde is quite good. I suppose they are quite different talents!

[@marcevan1141]

I just finished this novel and loved it. I do think perhaps Hardy could have given us a bit more of Bathsheba's marriage to Troy. The portrait of Boldwood was brilliant.

[@BillBooher-cu7kc]

I love this book. Farmer Oak is my very favorite male.

[@seandangercampbell]

Yeah, I really liked this book a lot. Respect for Hardy.

[@Fortheloveofclassics]

Can't wait to read this one: I have already ordered the book.

[@katiejlumsden]

Enjoy :D

[@CharlesHeathcote]

My father is a sheep farmer so I've always felt closer to Far from the Madding Crowd than other Hardy novels. Bathsheba is perhaps one of my favourite female characters in literature, simply because of what she represents - being a female farmer rather than a farmer's wife is something of a big deal in my opinion. After studying Tess of the d'Urbervilles for my GCSE's I didn't think I'd read another Hardy but then I discovered this book. I will admit that it isn't until you began this series of videos I realised that Hardy had such a wealth of fiction.

[@katiejlumsden]

I don't think I knew until a year or two a go - more than half his novels have been very forgotten. Bathsheba is one of my favourites too, and I do love Far from the Madding Crowd a lot.

[@KevTheImpaler]

I liked all the shepherding stuff, like when Oak cure the flock of sheep bloat. I thought Hardy had made a mistake because ewes don't lamb at Christmas time, but a shepherd on a literature forum told me there's a breed called the Dorset Horn that gives birth the year round. I thought it was unlikely that Oak would suffucate in his shepherd's hut, which Bathsheba saves him from, but when I googled it I found it did happen. I liked the farm labourers, particularly Joseph Poorgrass.

[@katiejlumsden]

I agree - I find the farming aspects of the book really interesting.

[@rusterford]

I just read this book twice in the last month. Hardy is a master of human relations, including the wonderful speech and interactions of the local characters. Even these minor characters add depth and feeling to this lush garden of Victorian life. But there is so much more! Many times the poetry of his narration stopped me cold - simply breathtakingly beautiful and true. This poetic power makes it impossible,I think, for any movie or series to do full justice to this masterpiece.

[@katiejlumsden]

It's such a great book!

[@lw3646]

I love this story too. The way you get so lost in the world Hardy describes. I guess my only complaint and its a minor one is the character of Sergeant Troy is maybe a bit of a literacy trope. He's a Mr Wickham, the alluring bad boy. Charming and beautiful but hiding unpleasant character traits underneath. Having said that officers at the time were often admired by women. It was even known as scarlet fever. It also follows the subject of a lot of Hardy's work. The good wife and the bad husband. You often have a good honest young wife and the unloving and unapreciative husband. Michael Henchard in the Mayor of Casterbridge, Dr Edred Fitzpiers in the Woodlanders, Angel Clare in Tess of the D'Urbervilles.

[@katiejlumsden]

Hardy is so great.

[@miakava8174]

You really hit the nail on the head! I just finished this book, one of the most fantastic books I've ever read, just brilliant! Thoroughly enjoyed hearing your take on it (and learning a thing or two too). Thank you for this video 😊

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks! It really is a brilliant book.

[@azaichissi5980]

I find so much joy in listening to you, I'm doing a paper on this novel and instantly thought of listening to you ❤️

[@michaelanderson1457]

I loved this book. Terrific writing - Hardy uses the perfect word every time. Loved the characters too, and was very glad the story ended the way it did. Some of the plot pieces stretched credibility (stealing the paper at the tent, and the drowning), but I was enjoying the story so much I could easily overlook those and read on. :-) Is there a good movie version? One that's true to the novel?

[@Yayoi4]

I loved this review and the book is pure delight ♡

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks :)

[@nishapan1376]

I have recently come to the conclusion that I enjoy the pastoral, and Far From the Madding Crowd was part of that realization. I read it after seeing the most recent movie adaptation because I could see there were things that were being skipped over and that couldn't be expressed well on screen. It was my first and only Hardy so far, and I loved it. I loved Bathsheba, because hitherto I had not read a classic written by a male author with a strong female lead, and I loved how one of the themes of this book is that even if someone have the strongest convictions, physical desire for someone can get in the way of the brain. I also loved hearing Boldwood's thought processes, because I could see that wasn't being expressed as clearly on screen. I was planning to reread it for Christmas this year, and I am even more excited now to do so to see if I can pick up on some of the other things that you mention.

[@katiejlumsden]

It is such a brilliant book. I find Bathsheba such an interesting character and Boldwood is a brilliant creation too.

[@jonathonglover6488]

‘Everybody Loves Bathsheba’

[@Maria_Efe]

I've been wanting to read this ever since the latest movie adaptation came out (which I haven't actually seen, but the trailers looked gorgeous), and your video makes me want to read it even more!

[@katiejlumsden]

You really should :)

[@KevTheImpaler]

The BBC radio version was back on Radio 4 extra this week. It's very good I think. You still have about three weeks to listen to it.

[@booksbyleynes]

Ahhh I really need to catch up on Two Weeks of Hardy, but "Far From the Maddening Crowd" sounds fantastic. Regarding VicLit I'm tackling "Jane Eyre" and "Great Expectations" at the moment, but I'm interested in diving into Hardy (and Gaskell - thanks to you gushing about "North and South" all the time) soon! :))

[@katiejlumsden]

Ah, so many great books. I definitely recommend Hardy and Gaskell :)

[@DudeLove356]

I 💕 this novel...

[@katiejlumsden]

It is a great one!

[@jeffreykaufmann2867]

Have you seen 2015 Far from the Madding crowd with Carey Mulligan?

[@katiejlumsden]

I have. I do like it, though the older ITV film is more up my street

[@InfiniteText]

Excellent video! Will you be doing two weeks of Trollope as well?

[@Fortheloveofclassics]

Infinite Text That would be great!

[@katiejlumsden]

Oh, I would love to! I've actually only read 7 out or 46 Trollope books so far though, so it may be rather a while...

[@InfiniteText]

sounds like A WEEK instead of two but I'll take it!

[@deirdre108]

Playback speed--.75

[@jeffreykaufmann2867]

You're a very fast talker.

[@RockandRollWoman]

Almost impossible to follow. I feel like I'm rushing to put out a rick fire. 🔥😆

[@js.3490]

I love Hardy, my fav Victorian author. I liked FFTMC but this is one that I did not love. Hardy got better for me in books after this one. FFTMC had characters that I just did not care. Bathsheba was not endearing, Bloody Boldwood was so pathetic in a way that I just laughed throughout the book in his scenes. BATHSHEBA...NOOOOO!!!! lol....Hardy's writing is gorgeous so for that reason alone, I want to read all of his books but as accessible as this book, it just never hooked me.

[@mariambarx5394]

Please talk slower