少女芭西芭·艾维汀父母双亡，寄住在姑母家，后来继承舅父的遗产担任了崴热坝上农场的农场主。她年轻、美丽、有才干，但虚荣心强，希望得到男人们的倾慕。年轻人奥克曾是一个小小牧场的农场主，一次突然事故使他破了产，于是他受雇做了芭西芭农场的牧人。奥克爱上了芭西芭，但不善表达自己的感情，爱慕虚荣的芭西芭拒绝了他。此时，另一位与芭西芭相邻的农场主威廉·博尔德伍德也疯狂追求芭西芭。但姑娘却醉心于唐璜式的风流军士特罗伊。他学过几种语言，风流潇洒，曾欺骗过纯洁少女范妮·罗宾，后来又抛弃了她，范妮怀孕，惨死在救济院。芭西芭很快与他结了婚，然而婚后生活并不快乐。不久特罗伊厌倦了农庄生活，他出走到海边游泳遇险，被搭救后一年多没有音信。博尔德伍德三番五次向芭西芭求婚，她被迫答应，正当博尔德伍德举行晚会之时，特罗伊突然出现了。博尔德伍德感到希望破灭，开枪杀死了特罗伊，自己也神经错乱，被终生监禁。最后芭西芭与勤劳善良的牧人奥克结了婚。他们的婚礼接近没有声张，可是，当天晚上，农场的工人们却自动组织了乐队来到他们的门前祝贺。

Chapter 1 Description of Farmer Oak-An Incident
Chapter 2 Night-The Flock-An Interior-Another Interior
Chapter 3 A Girl on Horseback-C0nversation
Chapter 4 Gabriel's Resolve-The Visit-The Mistake
Chapter 5 Departure of Bathsheba-A Pastoral Tragedy
Chapter 6 The Fair-TheJourney-The Fire
Chapter 7 Recognition-A Timid Gift
Chapter 8 The Malthouse-The Chat-News
Chapter 9 The Homestead-AVisitor-Half-Confidences
Chapter 10 Mistress and Men
Chapter 11 Outside the Barracks-Snow-A Meeting
Chapter 12 Farmers-A Rule-An Exception
Chapter 13 Sortes Sanctorum-The Valentine
Chapter 14 Effect of the Letter-Sunrise
Chapter 15 A Morning Meeting-TheLetter Again
Chapter 16 All Saints' and All Souls'
Chapter 17 In the Market-Place
Chapter 18 Boldwood in Meditation-Regret
Chapter 19 The Sheep-Washing-The Offer
Chapter 20 Perplexity-Grinding the Shears-A Quarrel
Chapter 21 Troubles in the Fold-A Message
Chapter 22 The Great Barn and the Sheep-Shearers
Chapter 23 Eventide-A Second Declaration
Chapter 24 The same Night-The Fir Plantation
Chapter 25 The New Acquaintance Described
Chapter 26 Scene on the Verge of the Hay-Mead
Chapter 27 Hiving the Bees
Chapter 28 The Hollow amid the Ferns
Chapter 29 Particulars of a Twilight Walk
Chapter 30 Hot Cheeks and Tearful Eyes
Chapter 31 Blame-Fury
Chapter 32 Night-Horses Tramping
Chapter 33 In the Sun-A Harbinger
Chapter 34 Home Again-A Trickster
Chapter 35 At an Upper Window
Chapter 36 Wealthin Jeopardy-The Revel
Chapter 37 The Storm-The TWO Together
Chapter 38 Rain-One Solitary Meets Another
Chapter 39 Coming Home-ACry
Chapter 40 On Casterbridge Highway
Chapter 41 Suspicion-Fanny Is Sent For
Chapter 42 Joseph and His Burden-Buck's Head
Chapter 43 Fanny's Revenge
Chapter 44 Under a Tree- Reaction
Chapter 45 Troy's Romanticism
Chapter 46 The Gurgoyle: Its Doings
Chapter 47 Adventures by the Shore
Chapter 48 Doubts Arise-Doubts Linger
Chapter 49 Oak's Advancement-A Great Hope
Chapter 50 The Sheep Fair-Troy Touches His Wife's Hand
Chapter 51 Bathsheba Talks with Her Outrider
Chapter 52 Converging Courses
Chapter 53 Concurritur-Horae Momento
Chapter 54 After the Shock
Chapter 55 The March Following-"Bathsheba Boldwood"
Chapter 56 Beauty in Loneliness-After All
Chapter 57 A Foggy Night and Morning-Conclusion