Middlemarch — cover

Middlemarch

George Eliot
Ambition, marriage and reform in a provincial English town — considered the greatest English novel.

Why this book matters

Virginia Woolf called it 'one of the few English novels written for grown-up people' — and she was right. Here's why Middlemarch still matters.

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Middlemarch
George Eliot · Chapter I.
Free Audiobook · Chapter I. 0:00 / —

Since I can do no good because a woman, Reach constantly at something that is near it. —The Maid’s Tragedy: BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER. Miss Brooke had that kind of beauty which seems to be thrown into relief by poor dress. Her hand and wrist were so finely formed…

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Table of contents

  1. Table of ContentsContents
  2. Chapter I.Free
  3. Chapter IIFree
  4. Chapter III.Free
  5. Chapter IVFree
  6. Chapter V.Free
  7. Chapter VI.Free
  8. CHAPTER VII.: “Piacer e poponeFree
  9. Chapter VIII.Free
  10. CHAPTER IX.: 1_st Gent_. An ancient land in ancient oraclesFree
  11. Chapter XFree
  12. Chapter XI.Free
  13. CHAPTER XII.: He had more tow on his distaffeFree
  14. Chapter XIII.Free
  15. CHAPTER XIV.: “Follows here the strict receiptFree
  16. Chapter XV.Free
  17. CHAPTER XVI.: “All that in woman is adoredFree
  18. CHAPTER XVII.: “The clerkly person smiled and saidFree
  19. CHAPTER XVIII.: “Oh, sir, the loftiest hopes on earthFree
  20. CHAPTER XIX.: “L’ altra vedete ch’ha fatto alla guanciaFree
  21. Chapter XX.Free
  22. Chapter XXI.Free
  23. CHAPTER XXII.: “Nous câusames longtemps; elle était simple et bonne.Free
  24. Chapter XXIII.Free
  25. CHAPTER XXIV.: “The offender’s sorrow brings but small reliefFree
  26. Chapter XXV.Free
  27. Chapter XXVIFree
  28. CHAPTER XXVII.: Let the high Muse chant loves Olympian:Free
  29. Chapter XXVIIIFree
  30. Chapter XXIXFree
  31. CHAPTER XXX.: Qui veut délasser hors de propos, lasse.—PASCAL.Free
  32. CHAPTER XXXI.: How will you know the pitch of that great bellFree
  33. CHAPTER XXXII.: They’ll take suggestion as a cat laps milk.Free
  34. CHAPTER XXXIII.: “Close up his eyes and draw the curtain close;Free
  35. Chapter XXXIV.Free
  36. CHAPTER XXXV.: “Non, je ne comprends pas de plus charmant plaisirFree
  37. Chapter XXXVI.Free
  38. CHAPTER XXXVII.: Thrice happy she that is so well assuredFree
  39. Chapter XXXVIIIFree
  40. Chapter XXXIX.Free
  41. CHAPTER XL.: Wise in his daily work was he:Free
  42. Chapter XLI.Free
  43. CHAPTER XLII.: How much, methinks, I could despise this manFree
  44. CHAPTER XLIII.: “This figure hath high price: ’t was wrought with loveFree
  45. CHAPTER XLIV.: I would not creep along the coast but steerFree
  46. Chapter XLV.Free
  47. Chapter XLVIFree
  48. Chapter XLVII.Free
  49. CHAPTER XLVIII.: Surely the golden hours are turning grayFree
  50. CHAPTER XLIX.: “A task too strong for wizard spellsFree
  51. CHAPTER L.: “This Loller here wol precilen us somewhat.”Free
  52. CHAPTER LI.: Party is Nature too, and you shall seeFree
  53. CHAPTER LII.: “His heartFree
  54. Chapter LIIIFree
  55. CHAPTER LIV.: “Negli occhi porta la mia donna Amore;Free
  56. CHAPTER LV.: Hath she her faults? I would you had them too.Free
  57. CHAPTER LVI.: “How happy is he born and taughtFree
  58. CHAPTER LVII.: They numbered scarce eight summers when a nameFree
  59. Chapter LVIII.Free
  60. Chapter LIX.Free
  61. CHAPTER LX.: Good phrases are surely, and ever were, very commendable.Free
  62. Chapter LXIFree
  63. Chapter LXII.Free
  64. Chapter LXIIIFree
  65. Chapter LXIVFree
  66. Chapter LXV.Free
  67. Chapter LXVI.Free
  68. CHAPTER LXVII.: Now is there civil war within the soul:Free
  69. CHAPTER LXVIII.: What suit of grace hath Virtue to put onFree
  70. CHAPTER LXIX.: “If thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee.”Free
  71. Chapter LXX.Free
  72. Chapter LXXI.Free
  73. CHAPTER LXXII.: Full souls are double mirrors, making stillFree
  74. CHAPTER LXXIII.: Pity the laden one; this wandering woeFree
  75. CHAPTER LXXIV.: “Mercifully grant that we may grow aged together.”Free
  76. Chapter LXXVFree
  77. CHAPTER LXXVI.: To mercy, pity, peace, and loveFree
  78. Chapter LXXVII.Free
  79. Chapter LXXVIII.Free
  80. Chapter LXXIXFree
  81. CHAPTER LXXX.: Stern lawgiver! yet thou dost wearFree
  82. Chapter LXXXI.Free
  83. CHAPTER LXXXII.: “My grief lies onward and my joy behind.”Free
  84. CHAPTER LXXXIII.: “And now good-morrow to our waking soulsFree
  85. Chapter LXXXIV.Free
  86. Chapter LxxxvFree
  87. Chapter LxxxviFree

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