Thomas Hardy's fourth novel, Far from the Madding Crowd (1874), is widely regarded as his first popular work. Bathsheba Everdene, an independent and vibrant woman, has come to Weatherbury to take up a position as a farmer on the largest estate in the region. Her fearless presence attracts three distinct suitors: gentleman-farmer Boldwood; soldier Sergeant Troy; and dedicated shepherd Gabriel Oak. Each, in different ways, unsettles her decisions and messes up her life, and tragedy happens, frightening the stability of the whole community. The first of his books set in the fictional area of Wessex, Hardy's book of sudden and slow romance is filled with his haunting descriptions of rural life and scenes, and with firm honesty about sexual relationships.
Thomas Hardy was born in Dorset, England in 1840. He was the son of Stone mason. He got training as an architect and worked for ten years as an architect in London and Dorset. Hardy wrote his first novel Desperate Remedies, published in 1871. His success changed his mind set and he had quit the architectural field. His novels Tess of the D'urbervilles and Jude the Obscure are considered classical in literature but at the time of publication, he faced criticism. He felt passion for poetry so he left the fiction writing and his eight poetry collection were published. He is famous for his rational and ironical writing. He feels pathetic for the worldly sorrows of humans. He criticized the Victorian belief of God and religion. He expressed his love for nature, deep consideration for poverty and rural life, disappointment for love and life and sorrow for fate and irony. His some notable writings are-Far from the Madding Crowd, The Mayor of Casterbridge, The Return of the Native, etc. He died on 11 January 1928.
