Women in the Bible biblical women had what anthropology terms "informal power." Ruth is the title character of the Book of Ruth. In the narrative, she is not an Israelite but rather is from Moab; she marries an Israelite. Both her husband and her father-in-law die, and she helps her mother-in-law, Naomi, find protection. The two of them travel to Bethlehem together, where Ruth wins the love of Boaz through her kindness. She is one of five women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus found in the Gospel of Matthew, alongside Tamar, Rahab, the "wife of Uriah" (Bathsheba), and Mary. Esther is described in
Far from the Madding Crowd (1915 film) of the type that appeared a decade to two ago in "The Fireside Companion", intended primarily for consumption in the scullery and pantry by the maids and the cook and the picture carries the same atmosphere." Hardy does not appear to have seen the film, although he wrote program notes for its premiere. The film's success in Britain prompted him to write his publisher that he was "glad to hear that "Far from the Madding Crowd" comes out so well." By 1920 Hardy had changed his opinion, saying that it "seems to have been a failure". No boxoffice records are