Middlemarch by George Eliot (1871)

Name: Middlemarch
Author: George Eliot

Middlemarch is a novel by George Eliot, first published in eight installments (volumes) during 1871–1872. The novel is set in the fictitious Midlands town of Middlemarch during 1829–1832, and it comprises several distinct (though intersecting) stories and a large cast of characters. Significant themes include the status of women, the nature of marriage, idealism, self-interest, religion, hypocrisy, political reform, and education. The novel begins with the arrival of Dr. Tertius Lydgate, a young doctor who has come to Middlemarch to make a name for himself. He is soon courted by the town's wealthy and influential families, including the Vincys and the Bulstrodes. Meanwhile, the idealistic Dorothea Brooke is determined to marry for love, despite her family's wishes. She eventually marries the much older Edward Casaubon, a scholar who is researching a work on religious symbolism. The novel follows the lives of these and other characters as they navigate the social and political landscape of Middlemarch. Dorothea's marriage to Casaubon is a disaster, and she eventually falls in love with the younger Will Ladislaw. Lydgate's marriage to Rosamond Vincy is also troubled, as he is increasingly drawn to the beautiful and passionate Lady Dedlock. Meanwhile, the town is rocked by a scandal involving the Bulstrodes and their son, Fred. The novel culminates in a series of dramatic events that bring the various storylines to a close. In the end, the characters must confront the consequences of their choices and learn to accept the limitations of their lives.

By George Eliot · First published 1871 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction · 60 chapters · 314,804 words

First lines

Who that cares much to know the history of man, and how the mysterious mixture behaves under the varying experiments of Time, has not dwelt, at least briefly, on the life of Saint Theresa, has not smiled with some gentleness at the thought of the little girl walking forth one morning hand-in-hand with her still smaller brother, to go and seek martyrdom in the country of the Moors? Out they toddled from rugged Avila, wide-eyed and helpless-looking as two fawns, but with human hearts, already beating to a national idea; until domestic reality met them in the shape of uncles, and turned them back from their great resolve. That child-pilgrimage was a fit beginning. Theresa's passionate, ideal nature demanded an epic life: what were many-volumed romances of chivalry and the social conquests of a brilliant girl to her? Her flame quickly burned up that light fuel; and, fed from within, soared after some illimitable satisfaction, some object which would never justify weariness, which would reconcile self-despair with the rapturous consciousness of life beyond self. She found her epos in the reform of a religious order.

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Middlemarch is listed on Textopian as a novel by George Eliot, dated 1871 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: George Eliot
Date: 1871 CE
Language: English
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, Drama, Satire
Length: 314,804 words
Structure: 87 chapters, 4,474 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Genres

Realistic Fiction — Middlemarch is a realistic fiction novel that follows the lives of several characters in a small English town in the 19th century. It is a story of everyday life and the struggles of the characters to find their place in society.
Romance — Middlemarch contains several romantic storylines, including the courtship of Dorothea and Will, the marriage of Rosamond and Lydgate, and the unrequited love of Fred and Mary. These relationships are explored in depth, making romance a key genre of the novel.
Historical Fiction — Middlemarch is set in the 19th century and is heavily influenced by the historical context of the time. The novel explores the social and political issues of the era, such as the Reform Bill, and the effects of industrialization on the town of Middlemarch.
Drama — Middlemarch is a dramatic novel that follows the lives of several characters and their struggles to find their place in society. The novel is full of dramatic moments, such as the death of Edward Casaubon, and the climax of the novel is a dramatic confrontation between Dorothea and Rosamond.