Far from the Madding Crowd cover art

Far from the Madding Crowd

Penguin Classics

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Far from the Madding Crowd

By: Thomas Hardy, Rosemarie Morgan - introduction
Narrated by: Olivia Vinall, Karen Cass
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

This Penguin Classic is performed by Olivia Vinall, who is known for her roles in Apple Tree Yard and The Woman in White. This definitive recording includes an introduction by Rosemarie Morgan.

Independent and spirited Bathsheba Everdene has come to Weatherbury to take up her position as a farmer on the largest estate in the area. Her bold presence draws three very different suitors: the gentleman-farmer Boldwood, soldier-seducer Sergeant Troy and the devoted shepherd Gabriel Oak. Each, in contrasting ways, unsettles her decisions and complicates her life, and tragedy ensues, threatening the stability of the whole community. The first of his works set in Wessex, Hardy's novel of swiftpassion and slow courtship is imbued with his evocative descriptions of rural life and landscapes, and with unflinching honesty about sexual relationships.

(c) 1874, Thomas Hardy (P) 2019 Penguin Audio

 Classics Solider
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The plot is timeless and events are all very believable. Nice to have a woman in the main role especially for a nineteenth century novel.

Great story

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While I enjoyed the performance I felt like the narrator used the same voice for Boldwood and Troy as it was difficult to tell who was who at times

The Drama and Characters

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I loved losing myself in Thomas Hardy's Wessex and Olivia Vinall's narration was brilliant. Highly recommend.

Expertly narrated

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There’s a missing chapter (chapter 16), which means all chapters after that are out of order.

Missing Chapter!

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great plot, but marred by lots of mispronounced words along the way as well as the relentless cheerfulness of the reader's voice which suggests she's not always understanding the tone of what she's reading.

uneven performance

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