This past May, Twentieth Century Fox released Danish director Thomas Vinterberg's film adaptation of "Far From the Madding Crowd." While the film is a beautiful, romantic period drama, complete with lush scenery and gorgeous costumes, it is at best a shadow of Thomas Hardy's late 19th-century novel. Vinterberg's film adaptation became available on DVD recently. So, for those of you who love period drama: sure, see the film, but then carve out some time to read the novel - you won't regret it.
Hardy's novel was originally published as a serial in a British periodical called Cornhill Magazine between January and December of 1874. "Far from the Madding Crowd" hails from a time when literary character names gave hints to the virtues, vices and follies of each character. Our hero and heroine go by the names of Gabriel Oak and Bathseba Everdene with significant appearances by Frank Troy and Farmer Boldwood.
When we first meet Gabriel Oak, he has just established himself as a farmer with 100 acres of land and a significant sheep herd. Bathsheba Everdene has come to live in humble circumstances with her aunt on a neighboring farm. Gabriel is taken with Bathsheba's beauty and independent spirit, and before long, the scene is set for the romance and drama that drive "Far From the Madding Crowd."
By the end of chapter five, Bathsheba has rejected Gabriel's offer of marriage and her own circumstances are altered for the better through an inheritance, while Gabriel loses his farm. These changes in station cast Gabriel as an observer while Troy and Boldwood both vie for Bathsheba's hand.
The story is compelling, but Hardy's capacity to reveal character is in part what has placed his works in the literary canon, and "Far from the Madding Crowd" is no exception.
Hardy takes vain, headstrong Bathsheba from a mirror-gazing girl and transforms her, through significant human experience, into a steady, rooted woman of deep feeling. Likewise, Gabriel's character is built from a practical, steady man to a man of understanding and wisdom. Hardy accomplishes this with compassion and believability.
"Far from the Madding Crowd," by turns, delights, astonishes and dismays the reader. It is a novel of humanity and insight embedded in a well-told story.
Unfortunately, Vinterberg's film adaptation fails to achieve the same complexity of character. So see the movie; but, really, the book is much better.
Paula Schulte is marketing coordinator for Missouri River Regional Library.