Summary
Set in the fictional English town of Middlemarch in the early 19th century, this sweeping novel intricately weaves together the lives of several characters as they navigate love, ambition, politics, and social expectations.
At the center is Dorothea Brooke, an intelligent and idealistic young woman who yearns for a life of meaning and purpose but finds herself trapped in a stifling marriage to a pompous scholar. Parallel to her story is that of Dr.
Tertius Lydgate, a progressive young doctor whose idealism clashes with the conservatism of the town—and whose personal choices lead to professional and financial ruin.
Exploring themes of marriage, reform, gender roles, and the constraints of society, Middlemarch is a profound portrait of human nature and the quiet dramas of ordinary lives.
Eliot’s masterwork is celebrated for its psychological depth, moral insight, and richly drawn characters.