《远离尘嚣》讲述这样一个故事：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。他们的婚礼完全没有声张，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