Far from the Madding Crowd part one - 6 uses of set

Mariam Hello, my name’s Mariam. Today’s story is set two hundred years ago in the beautiful English countryside. It’s about the life and relationships of a young woman called Bathsheba who works hard on her uncle’s farm, where she attracts the attention of three men who all set their sights on marrying her.

Let me tell you about the first man. His name is Gabriel Oak and he is also a farmer - so you would think they have a lot in common. She saves his life and then he asks her to marry him. However, she is dead set against the idea and so says ‘no.’

Later, Gabriel’s flock of sheep is destroyed and he sets off to find new work and he finds a job as shepherd on Bathsheba’s farm, which she has now inherited from her uncle. She sets out to manage this farm by herself despite some people saying that, as a woman, she won’t be able to cope.

Anyway, one day, for fun, she sends a valentine card to her neighbour - a wealthy landowner called Mr Boldwood. This sets him off thinking that she’s keen on him, so he asks her to marry him. But once again she says ‘no’. However, he becomes obsessed by her and pursues her, hoping that one day she will say ‘yes’.

Now enter the third man, Sergeant Francis Troy - a charming military man who attracts Bathsheba’s attention and eventually they get married.

But things don’t run smoothly. Let me tell you what happens next in the second part of the story. See you then.