Middlemarch

By: George Eliot

Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson

Length: 35 hrs and 38 mins

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.

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Public Domain (P)2011 Naxos AudioBooks

Excellent performance

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

Juliet Stevenson is an excellent narrator. Her pace was just right and her portrayal of the various characters, male and female, was superb. Would search out other audiobooks just for her narration.

Which scene was your favorite?

Am about 3/4 of the way through, don't have a favorite scene yet.

Any additional comments?

Middlemarch has been on my "to read" list for a long time. Have also wanted to see the BBC adaptation, but wanted to wait and read the book first. Listening has been a great experience because of the story and the narrator. Wish I knew more about the history/politics of the setting, which I might have gotten through the notes when reading the book, but have understood enough to enjoy the story. Will go back and research later. Have been surprised at how funny some of George Eliot's dialogue is.

A wonderful narration

There is no need to comment on the book. It stands on its own. However, I must praise the narration by Juliet Stevenson. I have only recently begun to listen to rather than read books as a matter of convenience, and I was quite surprised to find how engaging the experience is, having previously only listened to nonfiction. All of the different accents and tones employed by the narrator for each character were truly novel and, thus, made the novel so much more accessible and enjoyable.

Middlemarch and Beyond

Any additional comments?

Middlemarch by George Eliot was definitely not what I expected. I assumed that it might be somewhat Avant-garde, and maybe it was at the time. It was unusual for a woman to be an author at that time, hence the pen name George Eliot taken by Mary Ann Evans. In 2014, however, the book would not be considered eccentric or Avant-garde. It reminds me a lot of books written by Louisa May Alcott, who was born about twenty years after Evans.

Middlemarch, as a novel, was very long and from another period in time. It was enjoyable, but also a bit overwhelming. After listening to the 35+hour audio book, I have to admit that I liked Middlemarch and all of its citizens. I came to understand and like all of the main female characters: Dorothea Brooke, Mary Garth and Rosamond Vincy, in particular. Their stories of love, disillusion and resolution are universal. The political and societal changes that were beginning in Middlemarch were also occurring in England and beyond. Other themes also occurred throughout the book.

I would highly recommend reading My Life in Middlemarch either before or after reading Middlemarch. It really gave me a better understanding of the significance of Eliot’s writing and of Middlemarch itself. I do intend to do some more reading on Eliot and Middlemarch. I found a graduate paper titled: “Louisa May Alcott and George Eliot on Class, Gender and Marriage”, written by Elizabeth Michelle Meyers in December 2010. I’m going to read it, because I think it will be an interesting read and may help me better understand the works of both authors. I’m sure there are other sources that would be equally valuable. For me, just listening to Middlemarch was not enough. I’ve gained a lot from going beyond the book itself, and my journey is not over yet.

Impressive performance by Juliet Stevenson

This 900 page novel, hailed as perhaps the greatest of its era, may seem a daunting exercise to read off the page. But the vocal performance is so masterful that it serves to bring the story to life in a compelling and accurate way. The narrator seems uniquely sensitive to the written intentions of the author. And it is no surprise to hear the characters delivering a line that whose performance is then almost immediately described in the text. Possibly one of the best audiobooks I have ever listened to.

Fantastic reading of a classic

I am steadily listening my way through the classics and Middlemarch is one of the best. Juliet Stevenson's performance is great and the characters are bought to life. Recommended for anyone looking to enjoy a long complex novel.

Still relevant

This story from almost two hundred years ago is still relevant to our times. People don’t change and the romances and disgraces and hidden scandals still shape our lives. This is a great book.

Tremendous work, brilliantly told

A bravura performance of a splendidly intricate and charming story. Eliot has crafted a world filled with the heroic and the mundane, a microcosm of the universal human experience embodied in a particular time and place. You will see reflections of yourself and everyone you know in the denizens of Middlemarch. Juliet Stevenson reads with precision, dynamism, and warmth. I'm sad to be at the end of this tale.

a must read

the best book i have ever read. how the author entwined truth beauty honor manners

Life Changing

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

This novel is incredibly complex and interwoven... and Juliet Stevenson is the most amazing voice actor - trust me, it makes a difference when you're listening to the same voice for 35 hours. Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT purchase any other audio version of Middlemarch but this one!

I love this book.

Just beautifully written and read wonderfully by Juliet Stevenson. Second time I have read it and I enjoyed it just as much the second time. Some of the writing is just breath taking.