George Eliot & Middlemarch
Come with me into a world of passion and ambition, corruption and secrets, loyalty and faithlessness, and discover why Middlemarch is considered one of the world’s greatest works of fiction.
Virginia Woolf famously described George Eliot’s Middlemarch as “one of the few English novels for grown-up people”. She also called it “magnificent”, and most critics have agreed. Middlemarch was first published in 8 instalments between 1871 and 1872, in bi-monthly parts. Finally, it was published as a full novel in 1872.
Its history of composition is unique. George Eliot initially wrote it as separate stories, one of which was ‘Miss Brooke’ and another which focussed on Dr Lydgate. She then merged those stories to form the book, although she worried that it was getting too long.
The novel pulls together four plot lines – that of Dorothea, Casaubon and Ladislaw, that of Lydgate and Rosamond, that of Fred Vincy and Mary Garth, and that of the Bulstrodes. In spite of the history of its composition, modern criticism praises the novel for its unity and tight organisation. It is considered her finest and most substantial book.
George Eliot was a fine historian as well as a brilliant novelist. There is a wealth of social and political detail in Middlemarch which covers the period of agitation leading up to the Reform Act of 1832.
Come with me into its world of passion and ambition, corruption and secrets, loyalty and faithlessness, and discover why it is considered one of the world’s greatest works of fiction.
“What do I think of ‘Middlemarch’? What do I think of glory?”
– Emily Dickinson
In any age, Mary Ann Evans would have been extraordinary, but in the Victorian era she really challenged conventional norms. She extended the boundaries of fiction, she rejected religion and, eventually, she gained acceptance as a great writer in spite of the scandal of her life choices.
To be born a female with a formidable brain and an ugly face was a terrible handicap in Victorian England. Mary Ann Evans eventually gained fame as George Eliot and through her efforts made more money than any other woman of the Victorian age. But her life was a constant struggle for love, acceptance and intellectual freedom and as she tried to find her true place in the world, she changed her name to eventually become George Eliot.
I have always admired George Eliot enormously and do encourage you to read some biographies to learn more about her fascinating life.
“What do we live for if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?”
― George Eliot
Here is where to buy the book in print, ebook or audio. Find the books on my recommended reading list, watch a movie version, enjoy related videos, websites and much more. Have anything to add here? Let me know. Some of these links lead to protected content on this website, learn more about that here.
BUY THE BOOKS
Middlemarch by George Eliot
Middlemarch/em> by George Eliot, Narrated by Juliet Stevenson
The Life of George Eliot by Nancy Henry
George Eliot: A Biography by Gordon S. Haight
George Eliot in Love by Brenda Maddox
142 Strand by Rosemary Ashton
The Road to Middlemarch by Rebecca Mead
George Eliot: The Last Victorian by Kathryn Hughes
The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
FREE DOWNLOAD
Middlemarch by George Eliot. Free downloadable version in epub or Kindle format. If you are unsure of how to add these files to your ereader, look here.
Middlemarch by George Eliot, narrated by Margaret Espaillat
FIND IN A LIBRARY (You will need to create an account and hold a library card.)
Middlemarch by George Eliot National Library of Australia free public access to books in libraries at Trove.
MOVIES
A playlist for Middlemarch by George Eliot
LINKS
Susannah Fullerton: George Eliot
Susannah Fullerton: Mary Ann Evans is born
Susannah Fullerton: George Eliot dies
Susannah Fullerton: Video Talk – George Eliot & Middlemarch
Susannah Fullerton: George Eliot turns 200
Susannah Fullerton: How long should a work of fiction be?
George Eliot
Middlemarch: The Series, Video blog by Rebecca Shoptaw
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This is a long and wordy novel, but a great one. How relevant is its message today? What did you think of the final chapter of Middlemarch – were you happy with the fates of the major characters? Let me know your thoughts in a comment.