Into the sleepy village of Weatherbury arrives one day Bathsheba Everdene, come to take charge of her late uncles thriving farm. Strong-willed and beautiful, her presence ensures that life in the area will never be the same again. She attracts three suitors, each of whom is very different: faithful shepherd Gabriel Oak; dour gentleman-farmer William Boldwood; and dashing seducer Sergeant Francis (Frank) Troy. Impulsive and independent, Bathshebas wavering passions commit her to none and yet to all of them, with some disastrous consequences. Far From the Madding Crowd (1874) was the first of Hardys Wessex novels and remains one of his most well-known and popular.