Middlemarch (Wordsworth Classics)

The novel and the narration are extraordinary. I loved listening to this version. I only have one recommendation to readers who are about to embark on the Audible version. This version does not include the prelude. I didn’t not discover this fact until I finished the book. Reading the prelude in a print version after finishing the audiobook, I recognized that the prelude in fact could be considered a crucial introduction to the book. I recommend finding and reading the prelude at the library or online before you listen.

When I read a review, I don’t want to know what you thought of the book - I want to know about the condition of the product. I get nervous ordering books sometime when I see people post pictures of ripped covers, damaged corners, pages falling out, and things like that. That being said, this book arrived exactly as described. There was no damage, no printing errors, and it was in pristine condition - exactly as it should be. Looks just like the pictures in the listing. Very satisfied.

Make no mistake dear reader: Middlemarch is a slow burn. The prose is dense, it covers a massive amount of ground, and it takes a little bit for the reader to find their footing and understand the setting, exposition and context of the community and its central characters. However, if the patient reader can stick with it, there is quite a remarkable and powerful glimpse into humans contained within the pages. A.S.Byatt, in the introduction, most notably mentions that Eliot’s book is one about life’s “indefiniteness.” This is an apt way to describe the totality of the novel, as it plays out in various forms through the characters as a central theme. One of the most remarkable features of the novel is simply Eliot putting so many characters’ lives within the community of Middlemarch under a proverbial microscope, giving us a glimpse into human nature and the conflicts within individuals’ lives. And these characters are very flawed and human. Through many aspects, Middlemarch’s focus is characters who are either trying to do remarkable and noble things or trying to find life’s successes, but ultimately having many of those quests stifled and stymied. Oftentimes it is because of foolish pride, an unfortunate vice, or any other character flaw of some sort. However, in the same breath, this is noteworthy because these said characters often fight against their own faults, trying in some manner to overcome. In this manner, it is a fascinating look at characters such as Dorothea or Lydgate, who have romanticized ideas and visions that sometimes end with bitter realities. Yet, they have to grapple with these realities and find solutions because there are no easy answers. Among other things, the characters are also so well drawn. Eliot spends an extensive amount of time (almost to a fault) letting the reader gets to know these characters and painting a picture of Middlemarch society. I thought that Dorothea was an interesting character in that she sparks quite a bit of polarizing thoughts, both praiseworthy and critical, in reviews and book club discussions. I thought she is definitely a dynamic and well-rounded character, with flaws, sure, but with a character arc and a depth. She has a nobleness and an independence in her in not letting others dictate her life that was admirable. As mentioned before, these characters have battles: in love and marriage, in occupations and aspirations, in politics and community, in their own personal vices, and all under the glare and gossip and scrutiny of an ever-expanding and industrialized Middlemarch community. Eliot packs so much into this book, the characters’ lives, their faults, their struggles, their strengths, their weaknesses, and there is a wholeness to the novel upon finishing the final page. It was a long journey, but a journey I was glad I was on for the full duration.

I loved this book. I would never have thought or probably tried to read it, were it not for our book club president. My first moments with the book were a complete ugh. I thought about backing out of my promise to read it. As we find with other classics written in a vastly different era, we must accustom ourselves to the flow of the words. George Eliot wrote in a way that we don't speak in America in 2023. So what happened was, I started to read the Introduction. Let me stop you right there. DON'T do that as the first thing. And also, do note that the Intro contains spoilers. I then tried to read the Prelude. Maybe skip that also, because the heroine of our story is someone it takes a little time to cuddle up with. Next I decided that instead of reading this dusty ole' classic I would listen with an audible book. After listening to the first few chapters read by an excellent narrator, I said you know what(?) I can read this book on my own, so I picked up the paperback version that I had already purchased from Amazon. Read a few chapters, THEN went back to the Introduction and Prelude. My other advice, READ the Introduction!!!! Really read it. When you finish the Finale, go back and read the Prelude. My new opinion of George Eliot (from what little I might have known before) was transformed into now remembering her as a genius among thinkers. While you might find yourself in a whirlpool of words written in the English vernacular of a different era - when you want to scream "just say what you mean!" remember that the message from Eliot is as wonderful and worthwhile as any hour you may spend in contemplating the world around you.

This book has been lauded as a classic since the time of its writing in the late 19th century. Anything I might say about it will be pale compared with the countless reviews written over the last century. The main character is an heiress of a modest fortune who struggles to reconcile her life ambitions with the restrictive roles imposed on women of the day. She is forced to endure a loveless marriage with unexpected lasting consequences. She draws strength and comfort from her loving uncle and her sister while she endeavors to find her way to a fulfilling life in a male dominated world.

The cover is beautiful, but it's printed on card stock. Neither my first copy nor replacement arrived without tears and folds. Amazon doesn't package books well (at all), but the cover quality is so poor I can't imagine it surviving any shipping method.

The most wonderful book I have read in a very long time

Envío rápido y llego en buen estado.

"Middlemarch" has everything a reader could wish for: High volume (nearly 700 pages) filled with a great and still manageable number of distinguishing characters - each likable and fallible in his/her own way, their lifes with surprising and yet credible up and downs, and many highly inspiring thoughts on society and how it worked that time (as well as it still does today in many aspects). With her immensely broad view and her intelligent way of writing, George Eliot has convinced me completely.

Como sempre, as edições da Wordsworth classics não decepcionam. As letras, para algumas pessoas, podem ser pequenas, mas pra mim ela tem um tamanho muito bom. Veio em perfeito estado tbm

Best book. Print is fine, price is genuine

Novela victoriana del s. XIX. Wordsworth Classics siempre tiene ediciones muy bonitas y asequibles para todos los bolsillos

To my great shame, despite being in my 8th decade, I had never read Middlemarch until now. Perhaps, though, I have enjoyed it all the more for being in my dotage; having time to savour this distant but still familiar world. The book is absolutely superb; it is challenging on all sorts of levels. The prose belongs to another epoch but is worth engaging with on its own merits. The plots - for there are more than one - are brilliantly woven together in a seamless tapestry. There is deep understanding and compassion - even for the villains. There is passion, wit and laughter as counterpoints to the deeply serious themes Eliot explores; themes that are as much debated today as they were in the Victorian years. It is easy to see why some of our contemporary novelists count this book as one of the greatest novels ever written. The level of concentration required to read Middlemarch is demanding in our times but I would very much hope that my children will find time to become engrossed; it is so very worth their while. The tension built up over the final chapters is satisfyingly resolved; the final pages leave us with optimism - not the feeling of misery at the wretchedness of the fate-blighted. As for this edition, it is sturdy despite its size; it doesn't come apart at the seams and the print is clear if on the smallish side. The introduction is a little wordy and doesn't really help one enjoy the book more though the notes at the end (on what have become obscure references) is really useful. I envy you if you haven't yet read this book...it is not often one finds a novel that offers quite so much.