• Far from the Madding Crowd

  • By: Thomas Hardy
  • Narrated by: John Lee
  • Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (189 ratings)

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Far from the Madding Crowd  By  cover art

Far from the Madding Crowd

By: Thomas Hardy
Narrated by: John Lee
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Publisher's summary

Gabriel Oak is only one of three suitors for the hand of the beautiful and spirited Bathsheba Everdene. He must compete with the dashing young soldier Sergeant Troy and the respectable, middle-aged Farmer Boldwood. And while their fates depend upon the choice Bathsheba makes, she discovers the terrible consequences of an inconstant heart.

Far from the Madding Crowd was the first of Hardy's novels to give the name Wessex to the landscape of southwest England and the first to gain him widespread popularity as a novelist. Set against the backdrop of the unchanging natural cycle of the year, the story both upholds and questions rural values with a startlingly modern sensibility.

Public Domain (P)2008 Tantor

What listeners say about Far from the Madding Crowd

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Another Classic!

This book truly stands the test of time. If you've read it before as I have I think you will enjoy listening to the story this time. Its such a wonderful story that should be revisited now and then. The narration is suburb. This is definitely one that I will listen to again in the future.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A wonderful book

A beautifully written book and read perfectly by
John Lee. Of the many, many books I have listened to, this is up at the top (along with The Forsyth Saga).

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Such beautiful writing!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I certainly would recommend it. I loved the descriptions of the landscape, the agricultural life,

What did you like best about this story?

The strong female character. I did hate to see her get into the disastrous entanglement with a "bounder."

What does John Lee bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He gets the local accents, and characters sound "of the period," but the dialogue is easy for an American to understand.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Gabriel shows such loyalty to Bathsheba and to the proper management of the farm--saving the crops and livestock. I was touched by Fanny's desperate situation.

Any additional comments?

I came to the novel via the new (2015) film which I also recommend. Reading the book rounds out the story. There's the interesting interlude in Bath.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Bla ba bla bla bla

Holy cow just tell the freaking story. Way too much fluff.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

FAR FROM....

I am a Hardy fan, so his writing appeals to me. It seemed to me that this novel had such an abundance of geographical detail as to make it almost equal to the main story. Hardy's descriptions of nature are beautifully wrought with great personal feeling; and almost in contrast, he spends quite a bit of time on the doings and ruminations of the 'lowly' farmworkers.
I felt that in this case, his male portrayals were more interesting than that of the vaunted heroine.
Not as compelling as "Tess," but a good read.
I am also a fan of John Lee and thought his interpretation this time was fine if not outstanding.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A timeless tale

This is a timeless tale of love, love lost, love sperned, devotion, faithfulness, and community. 1800's or today, the core of this story still rings true. It is narrated by John Lee so in other words expertly.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Richly layered. Beautifully read.

Another great Hardy book. I appreciated the side characters, and the landscape especially. Main characters a little predictable, but even so, so beautifully rendered I didn’t mind. A very captivating listen and not as heart-wrenching as some Hardy books. John Lee superb.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Excellent use of 19th century English

I very much enjoyed the use of Hardy’s discriminations of rural settings, resolutions and dialect of ancient and lost sentiments of a prior age. I found a reading by a Brit who understands English used by a world of definite social and economic class very enjoyable. I listened to the 1st 3 chapters 3 times.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Hardy at his best

Hardy's first truly great novel is less grim than some of his later works. Listening to this again, having read it many years ago, I was struck by how much humor is woven into the text: e.g. in the early exchanges between Bathsheba and Gabriel. The novel is beautifully plotted–always one of Hardy's strengths–and excellently read.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Delightful

What a wonderful and well-written story. Lots of humor, good insight into the way people are. The narrator is superb, reading the voices so convincingly and naturally. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would.

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