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

Beautiful narration and strong character-driven story

Juliet Stevenson did a masterful job at illuminating each character to the point where listeners can almost feel as though there were more than one narrator. The story itself is unsurpassed in character development and plot line. What a remarkable listening experience.

A whole world comes to life, genius

Super good reader, involving, intricate, I never wanted it to end, the very best way to "read" Middlemarch

An Epic Undertaking

Juliette Stevenson made this epic tale enjoyable and, many times, bearable. You really don't realize, until your through, the amount of information and knowledge of the times you have absorbed. Middlemarch is the perfect microcosm of all things British during the era covered. It is very tedious at times, but the superior quality of the main characters keeps you going. Be proud of yourself for completing the reading of this masterpiece! It will stay with you. My next undertaking is The Mill on the Floss.

A lengthy listen worth it!

Best performance ever. A great timeless tale repeating in old English what is still the culture today. Instead of internet media, rumors were fed over frequent dinner parties.

A spirited reading of one of the greatest novels in English

What a wonderful, engrossing audiobook. Juliet Stevenson brings out all the humor and pathos of “Middlemarch.” It’s a long book to read, but it goes quickly when you’re listening to it— though I was glad to have a copy of the book on hand to mark the passages that meant the most to me. Really worthwhile.

Juliet Stevenson is an incredible narrator

This books is a little slow to start but a few hours in I was captivated. I can't imagine it reading it in print without the excellent narration to bring the voices to life!

a picture of timeless human personalities and struggles

This long narrative is well worth the time spent exquisitely written and superbly read, it wraps you into the stories of the characters' lives. You will recognize today's societal characters among the cast if this provincial tale.

Juliet Stevenson is perfection!

Middlemarch took some effort for me to be feel fully invested in this story. Ahh, the importance of the narrator...Juliet Stevenson made each character come to life. I was hanging onto each sentence by the middle of the book because of George Eliot's descriptions of each person's mindset AND because Juliet Stevenson made the words entrancing.

This is a superb novel read by a supremely talented interpreter

Juliet Stevenson brings this novel alive. All the characters have a depth and resonance that sets the standard for interpretative reading.

Story is more enjoyable to this mature listener--

--than it was when I was 25 and pursuing a graduate degree in English. Like Eliot's characters, one's own perspective on the self and others matures with time. Rereading the story after the experiences of love, marriage, child birth, and loss has, I find, made the novel more relevant and rewarding. Eliot is a keen, yet compassionate observer and storyteller. Stevenson's narration is likewise brilliant.