Five Novels by Thomas Hardy - Far from the Madding Crowd, the Return of the Native, the Mayor of Casterbridge, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Jude the Obs

Thomas Hardy, (1840 - 1928) was an English novelist and poet. He was highly critical of Victorian society and focussed mainly on the declining rural communities. Far From the Madding Crowd - Bathsheba Everdene is an independent and courageous woman who arrives in Weatherbury to become the farmer of the largest estate locally. She attracts three suitors, each completely different to the other. Each also challenges her and complicates her life, leading to a drama that affects the whole village.