Far from the Madding Crowd, Part 31 of 31
The Sleepy Bookshelf
In the final episode of 'Far from the Madding Crowd,' Elizabeth concludes her reading with Chapters 56–57, capturing Bathsheba's emotional jo
Key takeaways
- Bathsheba's grief evolves from overwhelming sorrow to a reflective, almost peaceful acceptance.
Main topics
- Grief and emotional recovery
- Memory and legacy
Notable quotes
Lead kindly light amid the encircling gloom. Lead thou me on.
Seems like yesterday to me.
Conclusion
The episode closes with Bathsheba and Gabriel embracing their new life
Transcript preview
Speaker 2 (0:00) Hello everyone. Before we begin tonight, I have an exciting new announcement to share with you. Since starting The Sleepy Bookshelf in 2021, we have been looking for new ways to help you sleep. Because we know how much you all love our Jane Austen seasons, I'm pleased to introduce The Sleepy Bookshelf, Just Jane, where we will read Austen's entire catalogue, one novel at a time. New episodes will release every Monday and Wednesday, so click the link at the bottom of the show notes to subscribe and follow along with the first season, Mansfield Park. I hope to see you there, to put down your worries from the day and pick up a good Jane Austen book. Speaker 2 (0:53) Before we get started tonight, I wanted to let you in on a little secret. For the best sleep, there's nothing better than the Sleepy Bookshelf's premium feed. You'll have ad-free access to the entire catalogue, so you don't have to listen to things like this. Plus, exclusive bonus stories in between our longer books. Follow the link in the show notes to learn more, and start your seven-day free trial tonight. Speaker 2 (1:31) Hello, it's Elizabeth, and I'm excited to share with you the newest show from Slumber Studios. It's called Sleepy History, and it's exactly what it sounds like. Intriguing stories, people, mysteries and events from history, delivered in a supremely calming atmosphere. Speaker 2 (1:55) Explore the legend of El Dorado. See what life was like for the Roman gladiators. Uncover the myths and mysteries of Stonehenge. You'll find interesting but relaxing episodes like these on Sleepy History and the same great production quality you've come to know and love from The Sleepy Bookshelf. So check it out. And perhaps you'll have another way to get a good night's rest. Just search Sleepy History in your preferred podcast player. Good evening, and welcome to the Sleepy Bookshelf, where we put down our worries from the day and pick up a good book. I'm your host, Elizabeth, and it is so lovely to be here with you tonight as we read the final pages of Far From the Madding Crowd. But before we do... Speaker 2 (3:04) Take a moment to allow your whole body to grow heavy, sinking softly into the bed beneath you. Unclench your jaw, loosen your shoulders and let the day begin to drift away. With every slow breath, imagine your thoughts becoming quieter and further away. Speaker 2 (3:44) There is nowhere else to be right now. Simply rest, breathe, and allow sleep to come. In the aftermath of Troy's shooting, Baldwood calmly walked to Casterbridge and surrendered himself at the jail. Back at the house, Bathsheba took charge with remarkable composure. sending Gabriel for a surgeon before bringing Troy's body home herself. She washed and prepared her husband's body, but once the ordeal was over, her strength had deserted her, and she blamed herself for what had happened. By the following March, Baldwood had pleaded guilty and been sentenced to death. Speaker 2 (4:51) But the discovery of clothes, jewellery and gifts he had secretly bought and labelled for Bathsheba Baldwood, dating them six years into the future, had revealed the extent of his disturbed state of mind. A petition was written up by the people of Wetherbury for clemency. Speaker 2 (5:18) With his execution only hours away, the villagers anxiously awaited news, and at last word arrived that Baldwood's life would be spared, and his sentence commuted to imprisonment for the duration of Her Majesty's pleasure. Tonight we pick up with new beginnings on the horizon, so just lie back and relax. As I turn to the last pages of Far From the Madding Crowd. Chapter 56. Beauty in Loneliness. After All. Speaker 1 (6:26) Bathsheba revived Speaker 2 (6:27) with the spring. Speaker 2 (6:31) The utter prostration that had followed the low fever from which she had suffered diminished perceptibly when all uncertainty upon every subject had come to an end. But she remained alone now for the greater part of her time, and stayed in the house, or at furthest went into the garden. Speaker 2 (6:59) She shunned everyone, even Liddy, and could be brought to make no confidences and to ask no sympathy. As the summer drew on, she passed more of her time in the open air and began to examine into farming matters from sheer necessity, though she never rode out or personally superintended as at former times. Speaker 2 (7:32) One Friday, in August, she walked a little way along the road and entered the village for the first time since the sombre event of the preceding Christmas. None of the old colour had as yet come to her cheek, and its absolute paleness was heightened by the jet black of her gown, till it appeared preternatural. Speaker 2 (8:03) When she reached a little shop at the other end of the place, which stood nearly opposite to the churchyard, Bathsheba heard singing inside the church, and she knew that the singers were practicing. She crossed the road, opened the gate, and entered the graveyard. the high sills of the church windows effectually screening her from the eyes of those gathered within. Her stealthy walk was to the nook wherein Troy had worked at planting flowers upon Fanny Robin's grave, and she came to the marble tombstone. Speaker 2 (8:53) Emotion of satisfaction enlivened her face. As she read the complete inscription, first came the words of Troy himself. Erected by Francis Troy, in beloved memory of Fanny Robin, who died October 9th, aged 20 years. Underneath this was now inscribed in new letters. Speaker 2 (9:28) In the same grave lie the remains of the aforesaid Francis Troy, who died December 24th, aged 26 years. Speaker 2 (9:44) Whilst she stood and read, and meditated, the tones of the organ began again in the church, and she went with the same light step round to the porch and listened. The door was closed, and the choir was learning a new hymn. Bathsheba was stirred by emotions which latterly she had assumed to be altogether dead within her. Speaker 2 (10:18) The little attenuated voices of the children brought to her ear in distinct utterance the words they sang without thought or comprehension. Lead kindly light amid the encircling gloom. Lead thou me on. Bathsheba's feeling was always, to some extent, dependent upon her whim, as is the case with many other women. Speaker 2 (10:54) Something big came into her throat, and an uprising to her eyes, and she thought that she would allow the imminent tears to flow if they wished. They did flow, and plenteously, and one fell upon the stone bench beside her. Once that she had begun to cry, for she hardly knew what, she could not leave off for crowding thoughts she knew too well. Speaker 2 (11:30) She would have given anything in the world to be as those children were, unconcerned at the meaning of their words, because too innocent to feel the necessity for any such expression. All the impassioned scenes of her brief experience seemed to revive with added emotion at that moment. Speaker 2 (11:58) and those scenes which had been without emotion during enactment had emotion then. Yet grief came to her rather as a luxury than as the scourge of former times. Owing to Bathsheba's face being buried in her hands, she did not notice a form which came quietly into the porch, and on seeing her, first moved as if to retreat. then paused and regarded her. Bathsheba did not raise her head for some time, and when she looked round, her face was wet, and her eyes drowned dim. Mr. Oak, exclaimed she, disconcerted. Speaker 1 (12:55) How long have you been there? Speaker 2 (12:58) Um, a few minutes, Mum, said Oak respectfully. Are you going in? said Bathsheba. And there came from within the church, as from a prompter, I loved the garish day, and spite of fears, pride ruled my will. Remember not past years. I was, said Gabriel. I'm one of the bass singers, you know. I've sung bass for several months. Speaker 1 (13:36) Indeed, I wasn't aware of that. I'll leave you then. Speaker 2 (13:44) Which I have loved long since, and lost a while, sang the children. Don't let me drive you away, mistress. I think I won't go in tonight. Speaker 1 (13:58) Oh, no, you don't drive me away. Speaker 2 (14:03) Then they stood in a state of some embarrassment, Bathsheba trying to wipe her dreadfully drenched and inflamed face without his noticing her. At length, Oak said, Speaker 2 (14:19) I've not seen you, I mean, spoken to you since ever so long, have I? But he feared to bring distressing memories back and interrupted himself with, were you going into church? Speaker 1 (14:37) No, she Speaker 2 (14:38) said. Speaker 1 (14:40) I came to see the tombstone privately, Speaker 2 (14:42) to see if