Middlemarch

By: George Eliot

Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson

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.

Download the accompanying reference guide.Public Domain (P)2011 Naxos AudioBooks

Masterpiece of English literature read perfectly

Never cease to be amazed and enamored with Juliet Stevenson's reading...and with such exquisitely crafted prose it brought tears to my eyes during even the most mundane parts of the story. Not the most quest-filled adventure of all time to say the least, more of a dramatic slice of life, but it did have a beginning, middle and end that were most enjoyable ;-)

Wonderful rendition of a great novel

The narration of this classic novel was so wonderful. Juliet Stevenson is a great character actress and she plays all of the myriad large and small roles to perfection here. This is one of the greatest novels in the English language, and she does it justice. Brilliant!

An essential Victorian novel, superbly read.

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

George Eliot must be one of the most gorgeous prose stylists who ever wrote in English. Her psychological insights are astounding. But just looking at the many pages and the small print in the book itself is daunting -- so it's lovely to have it read to you by a first-rate reader.

What other book might you compare Middlemarch to and why?

I think the brilliant novels of Edith Wharton -- especially "The House of Mirth." But, because of the complex double- and triple-plotting, something by Dickens is probably the closest match. To me Eliot is superior to Dickens.

Which character – as performed by Juliet Stevenson – was your favorite?

Stevenson is a superb reader, but I think her male voices are a bit exaggerated and often do not fit my visual image of the characters. Her female voices (surprise!) are the most effective. This temptation of readers to "act" everything out is often more of a distraction than an asset.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The entire saga of Dorothea Casaubon is a moving feminist statement, but Eliot carefully balances this with the saga of the young doctor, Tertius Lydgate. The plotting is amazingly good.

Any additional comments?

One of the great books in English. Belongs on a Top Ten list.

Juliet Stevenson FOR THE WIN.

Any additional comments?

I listen to a lot of audiobooks and this one -- oh, this one is, unquestionably, the best.

Juliet Stevenson manages to make language that is forbiddingly inaccessible to many who attempt to sit down and read Middlemarch, amazingly vital and natural. Scenes that feature a bunch of old men talking about land grants suddenly become funny! She has an uncanny ability to create such a variety of distinct, emotionally realized characters, combined with an unparalleled mastery over incredibly difficult language.

I have to admit, I opened up a copy of Middlemarch after listening to this, and I was astonished. Stevenson's performance is so natural, accessible, and perfectly communicates the meaning and intention of the language, that I had no idea how difficult the book really was. A masterpiece of the English language - and an incredibly rewarding story, yes, yes - but it's Stevenson's performance that elevates this audiobook to a level of sublimity. I can't say enough good things about it.

One of the best books I've ever read/listened to

The book is very long and there were times that it drug a little, but this can probably be attributed to my mainly listening to it in the car in traffic. Having never read George Eliot, I can truthfully say that the way she constructs a story, interweaves numerous characters, establishes distinct personalities and backstories as well as clever dialogue was ingenious. She is, in my opinion, right up ther with Dickens and Tolstoy in terms of the construction of a novel. But, what really made this so enjoyable was the performance of Juliet Stevenson. She is masterful at different voices and bringing the story to life. I think she's one of the best narrators I've heard. I am glad to have experienced Middlemarch. I had it in my library for months before finally listening to it. I'm so glad I did.