Middlemarch by George Eliot
Set in the fictitious English town of Middlemarch during the early 19th century, the novel explores the complex web of relationships in a close-knit society. It follows the lives of several characters, primarily Dorothea Brooke, a young woman of idealistic fervor, and Tertius Lydgate, an ambitious young doctor, who both grapple with societal expectations, personal desires, and moral dilemmas. Their stories intertwine with a rich tapestry of other townsfolk, reflecting themes of love, marriage, ambition, and reform, making a profound commentary on the human condition.
The 29th greatest book of all time
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This book is on the following lists:
- 1st on The Telegraph’s 100 Novels Everyone Should Read (Telegraph)
- 1st on The 100 Greatest British Novels (BBC)
- 4th on As if You Don't Have Enough to Read, Fiction Edition (New York Times)
- 5th on The Ideal Library (Book)
- 6th on The Top 10: The Greatest Books of All Time (The Top 10 (Book))
- 7th on Top 50 Books (The Folio Society)
- 7th on For The Love of Books (For The Love of Books)
- 8th on The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time (The Novel 100)
- 18th on Harvard Book Store Staff's Favorite 100 Books (Harvard Book Store)
- 20th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 25th on The 100 Greatest Novels (greatbooksguide.com)
- 27th on The Big Read (BBC)
- 27th on 30 Books Every Adult Should Read Before They Die (The British Museums, Libraries, and Archives Society)
- 34th on 100 Best Books to Read by Women Authors (Good Housekeeping)
- 68th on Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 Novels (Entertainment Weekly)
- 74th on My Favourite Book - Australian Big Read (Australian Big Read)
- 92nd on 100 Best Books (Montana State University)
- 110th on The Complete 500: OCLC (OCLC)
- 497th on The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users (Culture Café)
- Famous Authors Name Their Favorite Novels(from 1915) (New York Times)
- Best Foreign Work of Fiction Chosen by Francophone Writers (French literary magazine Transfuge)
- 75 Books by Women Whose Words Have Changed the World (Women's National Book Association)
- Books by Women That Every Man Should Read (The Guardian)
- 87 Books Written by Women That Are So Good, You Won't Be Able to Put Them Down (Pop Sugar)
- 110 Best Books: The Perfect Library (The Telegraph)
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)
- Top 100 Works in World Literature (Norwegian Book Clubs, with the Norwegian Nobel Institute)
- 50 Greatest Books of All Time (Globe and Mail)
- Great Books of the Western World (Great Books Foundation)
- The New Lifetime Reading Plan (The New Lifetime Reading Plan)
- Masterpieces of World Literature (Frank N. Magill)
- Best Books Ever (bookdepository.com)
- The Graphic Canon (Book)
- Finest Works of Fiction (Martin Seymour-Smith and Editors)
- 100 Best Novels Written in English (The Guardian)
- The Best Classics (The Times)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)
- 100 Novels That Shaped Our World (BBC)
- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers (Parade)
- #ThisBook (#ThisBook)
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)
- 500 Great Books by Women (Book)
- A Hundred Novels to Change Your Life (The Daily Mail)
- The Guardian's Essential Library (The Guardian)