Publisher's Synopsis
When Bathsheba Everdene inherits her uncle's farm she surprises the villagers of Weatherbury by deciding to run it herself rather than hire a manager.
The arrival of this independent and strong-willed young woman provokes conflicting emotion as Gabriel Oak, Mr Boldwood and the faithless Sergeant Troy compete for her affections. Forced to choose between rival suitors, Bathsheba makes a decision that is to have far-reaching and tragic consequences and, ironically, the 'madding crowd' enters and violently disrupts her life.
