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George Eliot: Middlemarch (unabridged)

Read by Juliet Stevenson

George Eliot: Middlemarch (unabridged)

Read by Juliet Stevenson

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About

Dorothea Brooke is an ardent idealist who represses her vivacity and intelligence for the cold, theological pedant Casaubon. One man understands her true nature: the artist Will Ladislaw. But how can love triumph against her sense of duty and Casaubon’s mean spirit? Meanwhile, in the little world of Middlemarch, the broader world is mirrored: the world of politics, social change, reforms; betrayal, greed, blackmail, ambition and disappointment. Dorothea Brooke is an outstanding heroine; Middlemarch is filled with characters that are vivid and true, comic and moving. It is one of the greatest novels in the English language.

Contents and tracklist

Prelude
Track length3:50
Book 1: Miss Brooke - Chapter 1
Track length5:58
And how should Dorothea not marry?
Track length5:18
Early in the day Dorothea had returned…
Track length5:08
Celia felt a little hurt.
Track length6:05
Chapter 2
Track length5:33
This was the first time that Mr. Casaubon…
Track length5:39
Dorothea felt hurt. Mr. Casaubon would think…
Track length4:38
'Let me hope that you will rescind that resolution…'
Track length4:01
Chapter 3
Track length6:57
Certainly he seemed more and more bent on making…
Track length4:45
It had now entered Dorothea's mind…
Track length3:37
Dorothea checked herself suddenly…
Track length6:18
Dorothea was in the best temper now…
Track length7:19
Chapter 4
Track length5:16
'It is very painful,' said Dorothea…
Track length5:32
She bethought herself now of the condemned…
Track length5:02
'Well, but Casaubon, now. There is no hurry…'
Track length4:25
Chapter 5
Track length5:41
Now she would be able to devote herself…
Track length6:54
The next day, at luncheon, the butler…
Track length5:39
Perhaps Celia had never turned so pale before.
Track length6:37
Chapter 6
Track length3:34
'I see you have had our Lowick Cicero here,' she said…
Track length4:28
Mr. Brooke again winced inwardly…
Track length5:12
In less than an hour, Mrs. Cadwalladar…
Track length5:21
'Well, Humphrey doesn't know yet…'
Track length4:43
With such a mind, active as phosphorus…
Track length5:06
Chapter 7
Track length5:23
Mr. Brooke had no doubt on that point…
Track length5:36
Chapter 8
Track length5:29
Sir James paused. He did not usually find it easy…
Track length3:40
'But, my dear Chettam, why should I…'
Track length4:24
Chapter 9
Track length6:35
Mr. Casaubon led the way thither.
Track length7:46
Dorothea sank into silence on the way back…
Track length7:11
When their backs were turned…
Track length6:29
Chapter 10
Track length5:53
Certainly this affair of his marriage…
Track length5:31
The season was mild enough to encourage…
Track length5:01
Already, as Miss Brooke passed out of the dining-room…
Track length6:54
'But we were talking of physic…'
Track length6:53
Chapter 11
Track length6:22
Lydgate could not be long in Middlemarch…
Track length4:26
'Mamma,' said Rosamond…
Track length6:26
'But how came you to stay out so late, my dear?'
Track length6:44
Chapter 12
Track length4:36
Mrs. Waule had to defer her answer…
Track length6:39
Before Mr. Featherstone's cough was quiet…
Track length5:03
'So, sir, you've been paying ten per cent…'
Track length6:51
Fred, in spite of his irritation, had kindness enough…
Track length6:40
'But,' she added, dimpling, 'it is very different…'
Track length6:11
Mr. Lydgate was rather late this morning…
Track length6:17
Thus, in riding home…
Track length5:35
Book 2: Old and Young - Chapter 13
Track length4:40
One of Lydgate's gifts was a voice habitually deep…
Track length5:09
'What I desire,' Mr. Bulstrode continued…
Track length5:00
To point out other people's errors was a duty…
Track length5:48
Mr. Bulstrode paused a little before he answered.
Track length4:54
Chapter 14
Track length6:39
The deep-veined hands fingered many bank-notes…
Track length5:48
Mary sat down again, and resumed her work.
Track length5:57
Mary looked up with some roguishness at Fred…
Track length5:37
Chapter 15
Track length4:37
He had been left an orphan…
Track length6:24
Lydgate did not mean to be one of those failures…
Track length5:02
There was fascination in the hope…
Track length5:48
He was certainly a happy fellow at this time…
Track length4:24
As to women, he had once already been drawn…
Track length5:53
To have approached Laure with any suit…
Track length4:09
Chapter 16
Track length5:50
'Hang your reforms!' said Mr. Chichely.
Track length6:56
'You will let me hear some music tonight, I hope.'
Track length7:30
Everything looked blooming and joyous…
Track length7:36
As he threw down his book, stretched his legs…
Track length6:46
Chapter 17
Track length7:00
'A mother is never partial,' said Mr. Farebrother…
Track length7:20
'Your scheme is a good deal more difficult…'
Track length7:35
Chapter 18
Track length6:36
And now, when the question of voting had come…
Track length3:31
Lydgate was late in setting out…
Track length6:02
Dr. Sprague said at once bluntly to the group…
Track length5:46
Every one now sat down, Mr. Bulstrode presiding…
Track length7:06
Chapter 19
Track length4:58
'He is not my uncle. I tell you…'
Track length5:49
Chapter 20
Track length5:38
Not that this inward amazement of Dorothea's…
Track length5:39
In their conversation before marriage…
Track length4:56
These characteristics, fixed and unchangeable…
Track length6:32
The excessive feeling manifested…
Track length4:21
Dorothea rose to leave the table…
Track length3:59
Chapter 21
Track length7:14
'Oh, there is a great deal in the feeling for art…'
Track length5:59
There was a new light, but still a mysterious light…
Track length7:36
Chapter 22
Track length5:58
They found Naumann painting industriously…
Track length6:33
Naumann was all apologies in asking her to stand…
Track length5:52
Dorothea, who had not been made aware…
Track length5:39
Will again feared that he had gone too far…
Track length6:08
Will was not quite contented…
Track length6:39
Book 3: Waiting for Death - Chapter 23
Track length6:05
The Garths were very fond of Fred…
Track length6:24
Since it occurred, a change had come over Fred's sky…
Track length6:22
Most of those who saw Fred riding out…
Track length4:59
Fred was subtle, and did not tell his friends…
Track length6:35
Chapter 24
Track length3:09
Mr. Garth was not at the office…
Track length6:03
'Now let us go through that once more' said Mrs. Garth…
Track length7:16
'Are Letty and Ben your only pupils now, Mrs. Garth?'
Track length7:05
Fred turned round and hurried out of the room…
Track length6:37
Chapter 25
Track length5:40
'Any man may be unfortunate, Mary…'
Track length5:53
She took a candle into another large parlour…
Track length6:17
Chapter 26
Track length5:53
When Mr. Vincy came home he was very angry…
Track length5:52
Chapter 27
Track length6:08
She never left Fred's side…
Track length6:30
Lydgate found it more and more agreeable…
Track length4:34
Mr. Ned smiled nervously…
Track length5:36
Chapter 28
Track length5:05
In the first minutes when Dorothea looked out…
Track length4:24
Dorothea's eyes also were turned up to her husband's face…
Track length3:50
Chapter 29
Track length7:10
To this mental estate mapped out…
Track length6:08
'We will, if you please, say no more on this subject…'
Track length6:59
Chapter 30
Track length5:25
'You will not mind this sombre light,' said Dorothea…
Track length5:55
When he was gone, Dorothea's tears gushed forth…
Track length5:55
Chapter 31
Track length6:03
'You don't mean that there is anything between…'
Track length4:50
'You would not give your heart to a man…'
Track length4:47
Solomon's Proverbs, I think, have omitted…
Track length4:33
Miss Vincy was alone, and blushed so deeply…
Track length5:18
Chapter 32
Track length4:59
But some of the visitors alighted…
Track length5:26
Old Featherstone no sooner caught sight of these…
Track length5:02
Their exit was hastened by their seeing…
Track length5:11
'I don't mind if I have a slice of that ham…'
Track length4:38
'I shall take a mere mouthful of ham…'
Track length5:01
Chapter 33
Track length4:09
To-night he had not snapped…
Track length4:53
He let his hand fall, and for the first time…
Track length6:16
Book 4: Three Love Problems - Chapter 34
Track length4:12
However, the three mourning-coaches…
Track length5:01
'I shall not look any more,' said Celia…
Track length5:03
Dorothea felt a shock of alarm…
Track length5:41
Chapter 35
Track length3:57
But in the morning all the ordinary currents…
Track length6:16
But the entrance of the lawyer and the two brothers…
Track length4:54
The small bequests came first…
Track length4:34
Mr. Vincy was the first to speak…
Track length5:23
Mr. Joshua Rigg, in fact, appeared to trouble…
Track length5:05
Chapter 36
Track length6:01
This was a not infrequent procedure with Mr. Vincy…
Track length7:00
Aunt Bulstrode was again stirred to anxiety…
Track length5:57
Any inward debate Lydgate had as to the consequences…
Track length5:44
An unmistakable delight shone forth…
Track length5:23
'It must be lovely,' said Mrs. Vincy…
Track length5:39
Rosamond, however, was on her side…
Track length3:39
Chapter 37
Track length5:12
Mr. Hawley's disgust at the notion of the 'Pioneer'…
Track length5:30
Invitations of the formal kind had been wanting…
Track length3:55
In another minute he was in the library…
Track length4:41
'But you may easily carry the help too far,' he said…
Track length6:03
'No,' answered Dorothea; 'Mr. Casaubon…'
Track length6:22
So they only said 'Goodbye,' and Will quitted the house…
Track length6:32
Meanwhile Dorothea's mind was innocently at work…
Track length5:26
The thoughts which had gathered vividness…
Track length6:12
The next day, Mr. Casaubon received the following…
Track length5:32
Chapter 38
Track length6:52
'There is one good chance…'
Track length7:14
'Come, that's rather good, you know', said Mr. Brooke…
Track length7:07
Chapter 39
Track length5:17
'Chettam is a little hasty, my dear,' said Mr. Brooke…
Track length6:33
Dorothea felt wretched. She thought her husband…
Track length7:10
It is true that an observer, under that softening influence…
Track length5:45
Overworked Mrs. Dagley - a thin, worn woman…
Track length6:09
Chapter 40
Track length6:54
She went and stood behind him…
Track length6:56
'We haven't seen the lad for months,' said Caleb…
Track length6:31
'Now Mary's gone out, I must tell you a thing…'
Track length6:58
As the Vicar walked to Lowick…
Track length7:45
Chapter 41
Track length7:24
'Have you done?' said Mr. Rigg, quietly…
Track length6:11
Chapter 42
Track length6:03
This sore susceptibility in relation to Dorothea…
Track length6:50
The arrangements made by Mr. Casaubon…
Track length4:24
'You refer to the possible hindrances…'
Track length6:52
There was something horrible to Dorothea…
Track length7:43
Book 5: The Dead Hand - Chapter 43
Track length5:22
'Thank you very much for allowing me to interrupt…'
Track length6:19
Will re-entered the drawing room…
Track length6:26
Chapter 44
Track length7:58
Chapter 45
Track length6:20
One of the facts quickly rumoured was that Lydgate…
Track length6:09
Mrs. Mawmsey had had a great deal of sitting…
Track length6:13
Mr. Toller's prediction was partly verified.
Track length6:27
How could Lydgate help himself?
Track length6:57
There was an immediate refusal on the part…
Track length4:33
Affairs were in this stage…
Track length4:34
Presently Rosamond left the piano…
Track length5:00
Chapter 46
Track length6:02
Ladislaw had now accepted his bit of work…
Track length6:05
But Will's articles and speeches…
Track length5:47
'That's very fine, my dear fellow. But your cure…'
Track length5:55
Chapter 47
Track length7:30
Having silenced objection by force of unreason…
Track length7:17
Chapter 48
Track length5:04
In the library Dorothea observed…
Track length4:56
'And now I think that I can take some repose,' said Mr. Casaubon…
Track length5:21
And here Dorothea's pity turned from her own future…
Track length4:35
Dorothea, feeling very weary…
Track length5:11
Chapter 49
Track length5:06
'My dear sir,' said Sir James, impatiently…
Track length4:56
Chapter 50
Track length6:49
'I can see what you are thinking of…'
Track length7:04
His attendance on Dorothea while her brain was excited…
Track length6:19
Dorothea tried now to turn her thoughts…
Track length6:57
Chapter 51
Track length6:22
Mr. Brooke always ended by agreeing…
Track length6:19
But whether he should succeed in that mode…
Track length6:38
'I am a close neighbour of yours, my good friends…'
Track length6:26
Mr. Brooke re-entered the committee-room…
Track length6:21
Chapter 52
Track length5:32
Hardly a week later, Duty presented itself…
Track length6:15
There was a moment's silence before Mr. Farebrother…
Track length5:43
Mary looked so much moved, that he said after a moment…
Track length6:28
Chapter 53
Track length7:19
Mr. Bulstrode was conscious of being in a good spiritural frame…
Track length6:46
Raffles opened wide eyes, and gave a long whistle…
Track length6:48
It was not long before they were seated together…
Track length7:14
Mr. Raffles ended with a jocose snuffle…
Track length7:04
Book 6: The Widow and the Wife - Chapter 54
Track length7:24
Mrs. Cadwallader said no more on that point…
Track length6:34
Mrs. Farebrother recurred to her knitting…
Track length7:03
She was not aware how long it was…
Track length4:42
Will spoke at random: he was merely venting his petulance…
Track length4:46
Chapter 55
Track length3:18
One day that she went to Freshitt to fulfil her promise…
Track length4:22
'My dear Mrs. Casaubon,' said Lady Chettam…
Track length3:59
Chapter 56
Track length7:10
In the absence of any precise idea…
Track length6:03
The scent would have been sweeter to Fred Vincy…
Track length8:03
Caleb paused here, and perhaps the greatest orator…
Track length7:08
The expression of Caleb's face…
Track length7:54
Mrs. Garth was not given to tears…
Track length6:38
Fred entered on the subject directly…
Track length6:14
Chapter 57
Track length4:05
'Let us all go and see Mary,' said Christy…
Track length4:07
The power of admonition which had begun to stir…
Track length5:23
No doubt it was having a strong effect on him…
Track length5:29
Mary at once saw the Vicar's intention.
Track length5:38
Chapter 58
Track length7:26
It might have been supposed that Rosamond…
Track length7:49
Rosamond was soon looking lovelier than ever…
Track length7:23
Its novelty made it the more irritating.
Track length3:48
However, it had seemed a question of no moment…
Track length4:15
Rosamond did not look at her husband…
Track length6:03
'What can - I - do, Tertius?' said Rosamond…
Track length5:56
'Are we to go without spoons and forks then?'
Track length5:39
Chapter 59
Track length7:42
Chapter 60
Track length5:20
Will was in a defiant mood…
Track length5:35
Meanwhile Joseph had brought a trayful…
Track length4:40
Next came two Dutch prints…
Track length4:47
The bidding was brisk, and Will continued…
Track length3:27
Later in the evening, however, Raffles overtook…
Track length4:14
Chapter 61
Track length6:23
But in truth Mr. Bulstrode was very far from a state…
Track length6:10
He remembered his first moments of shrinking.
Track length7:09
Meanwhile, in his conversation with Raffles…
Track length6:21
Will felt something like an electric shock.
Track length5:53
'I will not deny that you conjecture rightly,' he answered…
Track length5:32
Chapter 62
Track length5:32
Dorothea was detained on the good pretext…
Track length4:39
'He said he would never do anything…'
Track length6:26
When Will saw her there, he gave a start…
Track length6:24
She put out her hand, and Will took it for an instant…
Track length6:15
Book 7: Two Temptations - Chapter 63
Track length5:49
The opportunity came at Mr. Vincy's…
Track length6:08
'You will never care any more about my one-eyed giant…'
Track length7:03
Chapter 64
Track length7:41
Lydgate's anger rose: he was prepared…
Track length5:23
He went out of the house, but as his blood cooled…
Track length6:32
She returned home by Mr. Borthrop Trumbull's office…
Track length7:37
But the next day she carried out her plan…
Track length7:58
Lydgate sat paralyzed by opposing impulses…
Track length6:42
Chapter 65
Track length5:56
It is a terrible moment in young lives…
Track length7:35
Chapter 66
Track length5:24
Mr. Bambridge was not yet come…
Track length6:52
Lydgate, by betting on his own strokes, had won…
Track length5:58
There was a pause. Mr. Farebrother seemed to wait…
Track length5:42
Chapter 67
Track length7:17
But in the midst of his hesitation, opportunity came…
Track length6:54
Bulstrode showed a rather exasperating ability…
Track length6:10
Chapter 68
Track length5:13
Bulstrode carried his candle to the bedside…
Track length4:28
Bulstrode was only the more conscious…
Track length5:16
'The lad would be as happy as two,' he said…
Track length4:48
Chapter 69
Track length6:48
'You are a conscientious man, Mr. Garth…'
Track length7:15
Yet when he arrived at Stone Court…
Track length6:24
After waiting for the note to be carried to Mrs. Bulstrode…
Track length6:51
Chapter 70
Track length7:03
Strange, piteous conflict in the soul…
Track length6:54
The banker felt that he had done something…
Track length6:34
To her surprise, Mr. Bulstrode did not answer.
Track length7:20
On returning home Lydgate had a visit…
Track length6:34
Chapter 71
Track length5:37
'What's the man's name? Where can he be found?'
Track length5:12
'Well,' he said, with a deep breath…
Track length4:49
But this vague conviction of indeterminable guilt…
Track length7:36
Mrs. Dollop looked round with the air of a landlady…
Track length6:34
After the business had been fully opened…
Track length7:29
After the word chicanery there was a growing noise…
Track length7:06
Book 8: Sunset and Sunrise - Chapter 72
Track length5:03
'Oh, how cruel!' said Dorothea, clasping her hands.
Track length5:19
Chapter 73
Track length5:15
But then came the question whether he should have acted…
Track length5:39
Chapter 74
Track length4:46
'Mr. Thesiger has always countenanced him…'
Track length6:04
Mrs. Plymdale was in a situation…
Track length4:48
Hence Mrs. Bulstrode was shown into the drawing-room…
Track length6:38
He told her everything, very inartificially…
Track length6:49
Chapter 75
Track length7:29
'This is Chichely's scratch. What is he writing to you about?'
Track length6:39
He thought, 'I am a fool. Haven't I given up…'
Track length6:25
Chapter 76
Track length6:00
Lydgate started up from his chair…
Track length6:47
'Suppose,' said Dorothea, meditatively…
Track length7:10
Lydgate did not answer, and she saw that he was…
Track length6:41
Chapter 77
Track length5:39
Dorothea's nature was of that kind…
Track length5:56
Dorothea had another errand in Lowick Gate…
Track length6:46
Chapter 78
Track length6:27
Let it be forgiven to Will that he had no such movement of pity.
Track length5:13
Chapter 79
Track length5:57
Chapter 80
Track length5:38
Then came the hour in which the waves of suffering…
Track length4:43
She began now to live through that yesterday morning…
Track length6:26
Chapter 81
Track length6:05
Looking like the lovely ghost of herself…
Track length6:41
Rosamond, with an overmastering pang…
Track length7:04
'You are thinking what is not true,' said Rosamond…
Track length7:19
Chapter 82
Track length5:57
Thus he did nothing more decided…
Track length4:07
Chapter 83
Track length6:12
When the little lady had trotted away…
Track length6:41
They stood silent, not looking at each other…
Track length7:49
Chapter 84
Track length4:37
Mr. Brooke was evidently in a state of nervous perturbation.
Track length5:47
'I pointed everything out to her,' said Mr. Brooke…
Track length5:12
But Celia was glad to have room for speech…
Track length4:33
Dorothea, busy in her boudoir, felt a glow…
Track length5:43
Chapter 85
Track length3:57
He was full of timid care for his wife…
Track length5:13
Chapter 86
Track length5:12
Instead of speaking immediately, Caleb stood still…
Track length6:14
Finale
Track length5:35
Fred never became rich…
Track length6:32
But this opinion of his did not cause a lasting alienation…
Track length6:22
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