Far from the Madding Crowd Preface

In which the author introduces the notion of a contemporary Wessex, a region steeped in both historical resonance and modern realities, serving as the authentic yet imaginative setting for the forthcoming tale. He gently laments the fading of old village customs and the subtle transformations of rural life, beseeching readers to embrace the story’s rustic world as a cherished fiction rather than an exact reflection of present-day existence.