Girlebooks Home | British Literature

“Middlemarch” by George Eliot

Middlemarch is available for free download from our ebook catalog.

First off, I have to comment how nice it was to read this book on ebook. The paper book was is hefty and intimidating that it is hard to read. Actually trying to keep the book open to the right page is also very trying, and I suspect this also had something to do with my reluctance to keep reading after trying several times. On ebook, you don’t even notice how far you’ve read or still have to go

Now on to the review. My initial feeling upon finishing is that I must read this book over again. I felt lost for much of this book, particularly the beginning where Eliot introduces a large amount of characters. She does not skimp on details, so one is inundated with particulars about everyone and everything. I feel that I could give this book several reads and still never catch everything that is of importance. I again realized the need for a re-reading while watching the excellent BBC adaptation. There were so many scenes, particularly dramatic ones involving Dorothea and Ladislaw, that I didn’t fully understand in the book. I didn’t catch a certain innuendo or implication or scandalous look or touch. This is why there can sometimes be a reason for seeing the adaptation first.

My ineptitude as a reader aside, I found Middlemarch’s characters absolutely delightful. Even the characters we aren’t supposed to like–Bulstrode and Casaubon, even Raffles!–Eliot writes them with such a full and multi-faceted personality that you can’t completely categorize them as good or evil. Brooke and Ladislaw quickly became my favorites, the first for comic relief and the latter as the tortured, Byronic hero. A quick mention back to the film adaptation, both of these characters were superbly cast.

To conclude, if you feel inclined to pick up this tome, take your time with it. Don’t feel guilty if you want to watch the film adaptation first. And if you’ve tried before and never got through it, read it on ebook!