Middlemarch


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(3.8 stars; 26 reviews)

The book examines the role of education in the lives of the characters and how such education and study has affected the characters. Rosamond Vincy's finishing school education is a foil to Dorothea Brooke's religiously-motivated quest for knowledge. Rosamond initially admires Lydgate for his exotic education, and his intellect. A similar dynamic is present in Dorothea and Casaubon's relationship, with Dorothea revering her new husband's intellect and eloquence. In both cases, however, the young wives' expectations of their husbands intellects are not reflected in reality.

Despite extreme erudition, Mr. Casaubon is afraid to publish because he believes that he must write a work that is utterly above criticism. In contrast, Lydgate at times arrogantly flaunts his knowledge, making enemies with his fellow physicians. He regards the residents of Middlemarch with a certain amount of contempt stemming from his belief that the townspeople are backwards and uninteresting. However, his education has not included tact and politicking, skills necessary in a small town but are seen by Lydgate as below him, the brilliant doctor. (summary from Wikipedia) (33 hr 2 min)

Chapters

Chapter 01 & Prologue 25:40 Read by Guntar
Chapter 02 20:47 Read by Guntar
Chapter 03 23:40 Read by J. M. Smallheer
Chapter 04 17:06 Read by Elizabeth Klett
Chapter 05 20:26 Read by Elizabeth Klett
Chapter 06 24:10 Read by Elizabeth Klett
Chapter 07 8:54 Read by Elizabeth Klett
Chapter 08 12:04 Read by Elizabeth Klett
Chapter 09 22:31 Read by Elizabeth Klett
Chapter 10 25:03 Read by Elizabeth Klett
Chapter 11 20:42 Read by Elizabeth Klett
Chapter 12 36:26 Read by Elizabeth Klett
Chapter 13 22:15 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
Chapter 14 21:10 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
Chapter 15 35:55 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
Chapter 16 34:26 Read by redabrus
Chapter 17 22:38 Read by redabrus
Chapter 18 30:55 Read by redabrus
Chapter 19 10:56 Read by redabrus
Chapter 20 30:08 Read by redabrus
Chapter 21 24:13 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
Chapter 22 42:29 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
Chapter 23 37:37 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
Chapter 24 23:18 Read by Madame Tusk
Chapter 25 13:09 Read by Madame Tusk
Chapter 26 9:38 Read by Madame Tusk
Chapter 27 18:38 Read by Madame Tusk
Chapter 28 10:49 Read by Madame Tusk
Chapter 29 16:27 Read by Madame Tusk
Chapter 30 13:47 Read by Madame Tusk
Chapter 31 24:30 Read by hefyd
Chapter 32 28:39 Read by hefyd
Chapter 33 13:43 Read by hefyd
Chapter 34 19:18 Read by hefyd
Chapter 35 28:58 Read by hefyd
Chapter 36 40:10 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
Chapter 37 57:58 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
Chapter 38 21:15 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
Chapter 39 29:50 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
Chapter 40 32:05 Read by Andy
Chapter 41 13:03 Read by Andy
Chapter 42 30:06 Read by redabrus
Chapter 43 17:23 Read by redabrus
Chapter 44 8:17 Read by redabrus
Chapter 45 45:59 Read by redabrus
Chapter 46 23:17 Read by redabrus
Chapter 47 14:48 Read by redabrus
Chapter 48 23:54 Read by redabrus
Chapter 49 10:16 Read by redabrus
Chapter 50 25:39 Read by redabrus
Chapter 51 27:34 Read by Jennie Hughes
Chapter 52 20:11 Read by Jennie Hughes
Chapter 53 34:00 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
Chapter 54 30:50 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
Chapter 55 12:28 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
Chapter 56 47:10 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
Chapter 57 23:16 Read by Simon Evers
Chapter 58 46:25 Read by Simon Evers
Chapter 59 7:56 Read by redabrus
Chapter 60 27:50 Read by redabrus
Chapter 61 33:16 Read by Sheila Morton
Chapter 62 34:44 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
Chapter 63 18:33 Read by Ralph Snelson
Chapter 64 37:13 Read by Martina
Chapter 65 11:42 Read by Martina
Chapter 66 25:32 Read by Jack Farrell
Chapter 67 22:16 Read by Jack Farrell
Chapter 68 17:26 Read by Anna Simon
Chapter 69 20:36 Read by Madame Tusk
Chapter 70 25:20 Read by Madame Tusk
Chapter 71 33:40 Read by Madame Tusk
Chapter 72 8:03 Read by Madame Tusk
Chapter 73 11:34 Read by redabrus
Chapter 74 28:27 Read by redabrus
Chapter 75 20:05 Read by redabrus
Chapter 76 26:54 Read by redabrus
Chapter 77 15:25 Read by Madame Tusk
Chapter 78 9:27 Read by Madame Tusk
Chapter 79 4:52 Read by Madame Tusk
Chapter 80 13:48 Read by Madame Tusk
Chapter 81 21:18 Read by Madame Tusk
Chapter 82 8:50 Read by Madame Tusk
Chapter 83 16:05 Read by Madame Tusk
Chapter 84 18:00 Read by Madame Tusk
Chapter 85 7:27 Read by Madame Tusk
Chapter 86 & Finale 29:16 Read by Aaron Elliott

Reviews


(5 stars)

Good read. Kept my interest. Representative of how people of that time lived and thought.


(3 stars)

ok book, the readers are fine not great but not bad by any means.

Absolutely Agree


(0 stars)

One of the readers who precedes the lady with the accent is Elizabeth Klett, who is one of Libriivox's greatest readers. The lady with the accent has a pretty voice, and I believe a Pakistani or Indian accent. Either of these I find very agreeable, nearly as much as I do someone with a Parisian accent. It's unfortunate that her voice wasn't used to the best effect. Surely, there must be stories on Librivox for which her pretty voice would be perfect.

My sentiments exactly


(2 stars)

The reading, of which there are many chapters, by the non-native-English speaker made her chapters a true trial to listen to. Pity, as I'm sure her intentions were good but she rather overreached by reading in a language with which she is probably familiar as a reader but certainly not a speaker.

Use Version 2


(0.5 stars)

This is a great novel and thus, my rating is for the reading rather than the novel. Elizabeth Klett is a marvelous reader, but I was dismayed by how few of the chapters are read by her. I highly recommend using the far superior solo version of this book instead.

An unassuming but very appropriate title.


(5 stars)

This is one of the best books I have ever read. It treats of the complex interactions of character, human good but especially as it is tainted with evil. Often to the core of our being. Eliot had an incredible insight and understanding of human nature!

Middlemarch


(1 stars)

The reading from chapter 15 on was absolutely dreadful. If you expect people to listen to recordings, they shouldn't be made by people who can hardly speak English! I had to stop listening - and I really wanted to hear the rest of the book.

Liked it


(4 stars)

Much more urgency than in the Duronda novel. -Great narrator on this one.