My latest venture into the world of classical literature is Middlemarch by George Eliot. The action in this book all takes place in a small town in rural England. Multiple sets of characters are tracked over a few years. Several relationships are explored. The plot is not the crux of what makes Eliot’s work superb; the plot is fairly predictable and somewhat standard. What is almost unique is the enduring portrayal of human thoughts, motivation and behavior. On about every page there is a description of an human interaction, with a description of the internal thoughts and reasoning of the characters. These are timeless; just as applicable to similar interactions today. Eliot’s psychological and characteric insights are unsurpassed. The other thing that is very striking is the ever-present sense of class in England in the 1800s, even as there was widespread social, economic and political upheaval. People’s perception of their and others background and current status is a key factor in everything they do, say and believe. A hard world to live in. I cannot encourage you enough to read Eliot’s works; I believe you will be as impressed as I am with her excellent description powers, use of the language and human insight.
You, sir, are a better man than I am. I would never have the patience to read it-and I was a bookseller.
I don’t mind a long read if it is engrossing and I find her works, and most classic literature to be so. A nice change from the mystery and suspense stuff I tended to read.