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Middlemarch  By  cover art

Middlemarch

By: George Eliot
Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
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Publisher's summary

Dorothea Brooke is an ardent idealist who represses her vivacity and intelligence for the cold, theological pedant Casaubon. One man understands her true nature: the artist Will Ladislaw. But how can love triumph against her sense of duty and Casaubon’s mean spirit? Meanwhile, in the little world of Middlemarch, the broader world is mirrored: the world of politics, social change, and reforms, as well as betrayal, greed, blackmail, ambition, and disappointment.

Dorothea Brooke is an outstanding heroine; Middlemarch is filled with characters that are vivid and true, comic and moving. It is one of the greatest novels in the English language.

Public Domain (P)2011 Naxos AudioBooks

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With its esteemed history and bold contemporary scene, Britain lays claim to some of the most exciting literature in audio. With the hundreds of incredible British writers throughout the centuries, a person could devote their whole literary life solely to British authors and still never run out of amazing things to listen to. Whether you're an avid Anglophile or just want to discover the best English novelists for yourself, here’s a list of the best for you to choose from!

Editor's Pick

It’s never too late to be swept away by a classic
"Despite many recommendations and glowing reviews for the George Eliot classic, I’ll admit I was intimidated by its length. Now, I’m sorry I waited as long to hear this magnificent classic novel as I did. I am NOT sorry that I chose the edition narrated by the unparalleled Juliet Stevenson. It’s timeless, beautiful, and flawlessly narrated. Do not be afraid to give yourself over to this enduring classic romance."
Catherine H., Audible Editor

What listeners say about Middlemarch

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Perfect

The reader’s performance was pitch perfect. I am grateful to her!
One of my favorite books of all time.

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gorgeous

i am not sure how i managed to earn a degree in literature without reading this magnificent novel, but i am very glad i have it now.

i was not expecting it to be hilarious, particularly the dialogue, and the characters are so well done that they seem real.

the narrator, juliet stevenson, increased the pleasure immensely. at the end of the finale, i sighed contentedly. just pure pleasure.

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One of the best novels ever

Perfect! A classic that should be revisited with frequency. Re-read this after reading Sri Hustvedt's A Blazing World. Great contrast on women's issues.

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Quite possibly best novel ever written.

Do yourself a favor and listen to this unbelievable classic. And choose this narrator (Stevenson)-I cannot imagine a better one for this novel.

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This is the book to I return to again and again

What made the experience of listening to Middlemarch the most enjoyable?

Juliet Stevenson is an absolute master of characters. And Eliot is her twin.

Who was your favorite character and why?

It changes with every read, every listen. I will admit to a weakness for Fred Vincy. Listen to see why.

Which scene was your favorite?

Too hard to answer. I am really fond of the fact that Eliot likes dogs.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"This is a book too big-hearted and complex to have a single movie tagline."

Any additional comments?

I'll be blunt: this is a looooong book. And there is no conventional hero or heroine in this novel, only people struggling to be human. What I love about it as an audio book is that Juliet Stevenson reads it as if it is news, or gossip, not One of the Great Works of English Literature. Who among us hasn't spent too much money, goofed off on a job, fallen in love with the wrong person? These are the building blocks of the story of "Middlemarch." What makes this a great book, and a great listening experience, is the humanity of the story. Nobody is perfect, and nobody is evil. We are all just complicated creatures, trying to get by.

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Downton Abbey meets Days of Our Lives

This is a warm and insightful Victorian soap opera, sprinkled with tortured romance and funny images of the pretensions of the time, with resulting fallout. It contains regrettable instances of Anti-Semitic slurs that were common for the era and disparaging comments about Polish people. If you can get past that, keeping in mind that the book was written nearly 150 years ago, the stories are worth hearing.
Narrator Juliet Stevenson, is perfection. I am in awe of her, and, having listened to 35-plus hours of her wonderful voice, promptly downloaded her narration of Little Dorrit, which promises 40 hours more.

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Perfect Pairing

The pairing of George Eliot’s classic insightful study of human nature with the narrative skills of Juliet Stevenson is a revelation!

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Absolutely wonderful

Juliet Stevenson shines again in this masterful reading. My first encounter with Middlemarch and I was riveted.

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A continuing review

On chapter 3. First thoughts: this one of one the more difficult audiobooks of a classic I’ve yet heard. The narrative tends to follow trains of thoughts and inward images. You must listen very attentively otherwise you can lose track of what is happening. TBC.

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Long but worthwhile, especially for Stevenson’s excellent narration

It’s taken me months to finish this, and at times I did find it a bit of a chore, but the characters, humour, and most of all Juliet Stevenson kept me going, and I’m glad I persisted.

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