Middlemarch cover

Middlemarch

George Eliot (1819-1880)

Original en 316139 words First published 1871 United Kingdom

George Eliot's study of provincial life, and by common consent the most intelligent English novel of the nineteenth century. In the Midlands town of Middlemarch, the ardent Dorothea Brooke marries a dry scholar twenty-seven years her senior in the hope of doing great work, while the talented young doctor Lydgate, newly arrived with plans for reform, marries for beauty and money and finds both ruinous. Around them turn debts, gossip, blackmail and disappointed idealism. Eliot's eight books close with the most famous defence in fiction of those who 'lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs'.

Text sourced from Project Gutenberg (public domain in the United States); the Project Gutenberg trademark and license text have been removed on import. Public-domain status determined by the author's death year + 50 years rule.

Table of Contents

  1. 001 PRELUDE. Who that cares much to know the history of man, and how the… 2547 words
  2. 002 “You would like to wear them?” exclaimed Dorothea, an air of… 2510 words
  3. 003 “Exactly,” said Sir James. 2557 words
  4. 004 Mr. Casaubon made a dignified though somewhat sad audience; bowed in… 2538 words
  5. 005 It was Celia’s private luxury to indulge in this dislike. 2539 words
  6. 006 “It would be a great honor to any one to be his companion,” said Dorothea, energetically. 2562 words
  7. 007 That evening, of course, Celia knew nothing of what had happened. 2565 words
  8. 008 Mr. Brooke, seeing Mrs. Cadwallader’s merits from a different point… 3008 words
  9. 009 With such a mind, active as phosphorus, biting everything that came… 2537 words
  10. 010 Nevertheless, while Sir James said to himself that he had completely… 2630 words
  11. 011 Dorothea walked about the house with delightful emotion. 2522 words
  12. 012 “What is your nephew going to do with himself, Casaubon?” said Mr. 2508 words
  13. 013 The words “I should feel more at liberty” grated on Dorothea. 2542 words
  14. 014 Miss Brooke, however, was not again seen by either of these gentlemen… 2545 words
  15. 015 “Bless you both, my dears, and don’t quarrel,” said Mrs. 2541 words
  16. 016 “The more fool he!” said Mr. 2521 words
  17. 017 “Has any one told you he means to make me one?” “Of course not. 2502 words
  18. 018 “She might have waited till I did ask her.” “I knew it would nettle… 2513 words
  19. 019 “Yes, yes. The long and short of it is, somebody has told old… 2505 words
  20. 020 “I assure you, sir, I am very grateful,” said Fred, who had had time… 2533 words
  21. 021 At present I have to make the new settler Lydgate better known to any… 3099 words
  22. 022 He was certainly a happy fellow at this time: to be seven-and-twenty… 2559 words
  23. 023 The subject of the chaplaincy came up at Mr. 2557 words
  24. 024 Everything looked blooming and joyous except Miss Morgan, who was… 2758 words
  25. 025 Mrs. Farebrother welcomed the guest with a lively formality and… 2566 words
  26. 026 “Very good. But then you must not offend your arsenic-man. You will… 2750 words
  27. 027 Thus it happened that on this occasion Bulstrode became identified… 2631 words
  28. 028 “No, no,” said his companion, with a little frown. 2817 words
  29. 029 When he said, “Does this interest you, Dorothea? 2588 words
  30. 030 CHAPTER XXI. “Hire facounde eke full womanly and plain, No… 2550 words
  31. 031 Dorothea’s eyes followed her husband anxiously, while he sank down… 2517 words
  32. 032 “Now, sir, if you can oblige me again; I will release the lady-wife.” So Mr. 2507 words
  33. 033 “I shall not see you again.” “Oh, stay till Mr. 2534 words
  34. 034 Mr. Garth had a small office in the town, and to this Fred went with… 2604 words
  35. 035 “Why, you said just now his was worse than mine,” said Fred, more irritable than usual. 2504 words
  36. 036 “No, you mightn’t, if you weren’t silly,” said Ben. 2572 words
  37. 037 His classification of human employments was rather crude, and, like… 2508 words
  38. 038 “I don’t want to pry, my dear. 2602 words
  39. 039 Poor mamma indeed was an object to touch any creature born of woman; and Mr. 2526 words
  40. 040 “I think I shall turn round on you and accuse you of being a Goth,”… 2505 words
  41. 041 “Of course I shall. How can you ask me?” “Only I was afraid you would… 2547 words
  42. 042 When Sir James entered the library, however, Mr. 2623 words
  43. 043 Opening her own letter Dorothea saw that it was a lively continuation… 2535 words
  44. 044 “Clearly,” said Lydgate, looking at her—perhaps even staring a little in return. 2737 words
  45. 045 Mary would have borne this one pair of eyes with comparative ease… 2541 words
  46. 046 “‘Anne of Geierstein’ (pronounced Jeersteen) or the ‘Maiden of the… 2532 words
  47. 047 Mary approached him cautiously, knowing him too well. 2514 words
  48. 048 “Positively,” exclaimed Mrs. 2502 words
  49. 049 Old Featherstone had often reflected as he sat looking at the fire… 2696 words
  50. 050 As to any provincial history in which the agents are all of high… 2613 words
  51. 051 He did this in an episodic way, very much as he gave orders to his… 2750 words
  52. 052 Rosamond, however, was on her side much occupied with conjectures… 2586 words
  53. 053 But the stratagem was defeated by the weather. 2541 words
  54. 054 “I can’t wait to-day,” said Will, inwardly seared by the possibility that Mr. 2560 words
  55. 055 There was a perceptible pause before Mr. 2576 words
  56. 056 “Poor Casaubon!” the Rector said. 2540 words
  57. 057 “Chettam is a little hasty, my dear,” said Mr. 2567 words
  58. 058 “Dagley, my good fellow,” began Mr. 2500 words
  59. 059 “Will they come to fetch him, mother?” said Letty, thinking of the… 2660 words
  60. 060 “Have you any message for your old playfellow, Miss Garth?” said the… 2515 words
  61. 061 “Have you done?” said Mr. 2816 words
  62. 062 The arrangements made by Mr. 2581 words
  63. 063 “Dorothea!” he said, with a gentle surprise in his tone. 2501 words
  64. 064 “I am sure you do not neglect your work. 2613 words
  65. 065 “It is in that way that hard-working medical men may come to be… 2600 words
  66. 066 How could Lydgate help himself? 2510 words
  67. 067 “What is absorbing you?” she said, leaning forward and bringing her face nearer to his. 2507 words
  68. 068 At Mr. Farebrother’s, however, whom the irony of events had brought… 2545 words
  69. 069 Nevertheless, since the inward debate necessarily turned on Dorothea… 2514 words
  70. 070 “I fear that the excitement may be too great for you,” said Dorothea… 2524 words
  71. 071 Sir James looked at the carpet for a minute in silence, and then… 2520 words
  72. 072 “James says so. He says it is abominable, and not like a gentleman.… 2609 words
  73. 073 Happily Dorothea was in her private sitting-room when this… 2526 words
  74. 074 “This looks well, eh?” said Mr. 2542 words
  75. 075 CHAPTER LII. “His heart The lowliest duties on itself did lay.”… 2531 words
  76. 076 “Thank you, Mr. Farebrother,” said Mary, earnestly. “I am grateful to… 2500 words
  77. 077 Mr. Bulstrode turned his horse and looked along the lane, but made no… 2600 words
  78. 078 But since Bulstrode did not speak, Raffles ran on, by way of using time to the utmost. 2517 words
  79. 079 “For heaven’s sake don’t touch on that topic, Elinor! 2504 words
  80. 080 “You are very good,” said Will, irritably. 2535 words
  81. 081 CHAPTER LVI. “How happy is he born and taught That serveth not… 2505 words
  82. 082 “Yo’re a coward, yo are. Yo git off your horse, young measter, and… 2594 words
  83. 083 “It is come round as I thought, Susan,” said Caleb, when they were… 2522 words
  84. 084 “Yes, poor thing. I’m sure I felt for her being disappointed of her… 2597 words
  85. 085 “You don’t mean, my dear Miss Garth, that you are glad to hear of a… 2612 words
  86. 086 On the contrary Lydgate was more than hurt—he was utterly confounded… 2536 words
  87. 087 Having no money, and having privately sought advice as to what… 2501 words
  88. 088 “This is idle Rosamond,” said Lydgate, angrily. 2531 words
  89. 089 “Everybody” that day did not include Mr. 2548 words
  90. 090 The bidding was brisk, and Will continued to share in it, remembering that Mrs. 2554 words
  91. 091 Once more he saw himself the young banker’s clerk, with an agreeable… 2537 words
  92. 092 “Yes, they are all true,” said Will, struck with the order in which… 2570 words
  93. 093 “You began by saying that one report was false, Mrs. 2608 words
  94. 094 Any one watching her might have seen that there was a fortifying thought within her. 2533 words
  95. 095 “Please,” said Louisa, looking up at the Vicar. 2506 words
  96. 096 Rosamond left her husband’s knee and walked slowly to the other end… 2508 words
  97. 097 “Perhaps some one else may turn up. 2614 words
  98. 098 CHAPTER LXV. One of us two must bowen douteless, And, sith a man is… 2592 words
  99. 099 The billiard-room at the Green Dragon was the constant resort of a… 2589 words
  100. 100 “Of course I know it might easily be all up with me,” he said, in a troubled voice. 2550 words
  101. 101 Mr. Bulstrode had lowered his eyes from Lydgate’s face to the buttons… 2874 words
  102. 102 This was the experience which had determined his conversation with Lydgate. 2599 words
  103. 103 “One moment, Mr. Garth!” said Bulstrode, hurriedly. “I may trust then… 2525 words
  104. 104 CHAPTER LXX. “Our deeds still travel with us from afar, And what we… 2607 words
  105. 105 He had sat an hour and a half in this conflict by the firelight only… 2625 words
  106. 106 When the discourse was at this point of animation, came up Mr. 2517 words
  107. 107 “No such thing!” said the barber, who felt himself a little above his… 2559 words
  108. 108 After the word chicanery there was a growing noise, half of murmurs… 2516 words
  109. 109 He felt himself becoming violent and unreasonable as if raging under… 2538 words
  110. 110 “Well,” said Mrs. Hackbutt, wheeling adroitly, “all I can say is… 2565 words
  111. 111 But this imperfectly taught woman, whose phrases and habits were an… 2633 words
  112. 112 He thought, “I am a fool. 2632 words
  113. 113 “Oh, it is hard!” said Dorothea. 2638 words
  114. 114 But this morning Rosamond descended from her room upstairs—where she… 2544 words
  115. 115 She put out her arm and laid the tips of her fingers on Will’s coat-sleeve. 2592 words
  116. 116 Finding that the social spirit had beguiled her into being rather… 2508 words
  117. 117 “Yes, the check is going to Bulstrode to-day.” He said no more, but… 2545 words
  118. 118 “You are thinking what is not true,” said Rosamond, in an eager… 2501 words
  119. 119 CHAPTER LXXXIII. “And now good-morrow to our waking souls Which watch… 2568 words
  120. 120 But when the rain was quiet, Dorothea turned to look at Will. 2666 words
  121. 121 But Celia was glad to have room for speech after her uncle’s… 2557 words
  122. 122 “Yes, it would,” said Mrs. 2552 words
  123. 123 Fred never became rich—his hopefulness had not led him to expect… 1962 words