This was the favourite novel of a witty colleague of mine, who had read it innumerable times. One morning, I discovered him alone in a room sitting in an armchair quietly reading in a corner, gleefully giggling at a doubtless brilliant passage as if he had chanced upon it for the first time. He clearly knew how to read and to understand things afresh, with new eyes, every time he turned a page, and I knew then that Middlemarch was a novel to be read and re-read. Of all the things that I remember about JF, and there are many, this moment is amongst the most abiding. As for the novel, it’s on my shelf, yet to be discovered, but I’ll get there one day. Thank you for this lucid introduction and for a pleasant start to the day!
Thank you. I've just finished reading Middlemarch and enjoyed it immensely. But your talk gave me insight and meaningful perspective on several aspects of the novel I hadn't really considered, and has enhanced my appreciation of Eliot's wonderful novel. I think the historical context of the novel is one of the most challenging things to understand (or, it was for me, anyway), as I know almost nothing about the difference between 1830s (-ish) England when the novel is set, and the early 1870s when Eliot wrote it. But it is clear from what she says in the novel that this was important. Thank you again, Dr. Livesey!
I love introductions and reviews of major works like this. Very very helpful! Clear, multi-perspective, symphonic. I think that now, so long after the writing of these masterpieces, that with cultures and many things (not all things) having changed, we gain a lot by adding our ability to contemplate relevance, issues, to expand our perspectives and perceptions, and to consider the past, present and future, much better off for having taken the time to really indulge in quality time contemplation, tipped off by coaches who are First-Rate minds like a great writer, great artists, great scientist, great activist, great hearts, great humanists, etc., who often have lived these events in their rich complexity with the fewest filters between themselves and events. It's an essential way to help coach our own understanding and subsequent behavior. George Eliot had a first-rate mind. Her thinking and ability to communicate are magnificent and lucid, on point, comprehensive. Eliot, Steinbeck, Dickens, Dante, Mark Twain, Atwood, Oriosto, Aristophanes, and hundreds more. Thank you, Dr. Ruth Livesey!
Reading Middlemarch has been such a fantastic journey. Its the prowess of George Eliot's pen that made me empathize with all the characters. I absolutely loved reading the chapters about Dorothea and Mary Garth.
This was a fascinating discussion. I liked the way Dr. Livesey at the end highlighted a passage where we see things from Casaubon's perspective, at the beginning of Chapter 29. One passage says "he would neglect no arrangement for her happiness; in return, he should receive family pleasures and leave behind him that copy of himself which seemed so urgently required of a man." This would seem to indicate that Casaubon was not impotent, or at least didn't believe himself to be so, or else it makes no sense. The Scottish historian, Neal Ascherson, argued in The Independent, “The truth about Casaubon: a great intellect destroyed by a silly woman” that Casaubon was a genius, and not a pretentious dullard. Supposing he is correct, Middlemarch shows the way rude, self-centred geniuses are generally treated by the people around them, not, like Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes, loved and adored in spite of their rudeness, but ridiculed and disliked. The book leaves the way open for different interpretations of Casaubon, and the reader must decide for himself.
Just finished it last night. I liked it very much. The last 300 pages or so went so fast! My favorite character was Mary Garth, but its impossible not to love Dorothea!
Thank you for such a helpful insight. I'm finding the novel difficult in places, especially the more philosophical passages, but enjoyable and refreshing.
Just finished it yesterday on the Edinburgh to Kings X train. It took me 2 months to read, but it's a masterpiece. I can't believe quite how good this book is. So many wonderful characters. If you have any inclination to read it, please do.
The language is what most fascinates me but also irritates me especially as the Proustian subordinates climb and almost make my head spins.Yes,doubtless,a book to be read and reread and always something afresh and new seem to jump out of it.
You talk about Catholic emancipation and the Reform Act. How aware of these issues do you think her reader were. I have to wonder. If you took average reader today in the US, they couldn't tell you anything about the Voting Rights Act (which is similar in importance to the Reform Act) I can't help but think that we (academics in particular) over estimate reader knowledge. This doesn't (of course) take away from thre novel but is important to think about in terms of its popularity at the time.
Always appreciate he vids. Felix holt and deronda r both even better. Ester Lyons an even better tale in Felix than Dorothea Brooke. mM seemed excessively didactic to me. Great book but I am clueless why the academic community insists on focusing on this one.
It is both. Middlemarch itself is a town, a newly industrialising one. But many of the main families in the story are the landed gentry who live in the rural areas outside the town. And the tension between the two is part of the story - eg Mr Brooke’s (landed gentry) ill-advised tilt at Parliament as a pro-reformer, which is a kind of class betrayal that is designed to appeal to the townsfolk but unsettles the other landed gentry.
@@existentialistremnant6231 I don't think it was the question as much as the way it was asked? I know what he was trying to say but it didn't come across right.
This was the favourite novel of a witty colleague of mine, who had read it innumerable times. One morning, I discovered him alone in a room sitting in an armchair quietly reading in a corner, gleefully giggling at a doubtless brilliant passage as if he had chanced upon it for the first time. He clearly knew how to read and to understand things afresh, with new eyes, every time he turned a page, and I knew then that Middlemarch was a novel to be read and re-read. Of all the things that I remember about JF, and there are many, this moment is amongst the most abiding. As for the novel, it’s on my shelf, yet to be discovered, but I’ll get there one day. Thank you for this lucid introduction and for a pleasant start to the day!
Thank you. I've just finished reading Middlemarch and enjoyed it immensely. But your talk gave me insight and meaningful perspective on several aspects of the novel I hadn't really considered, and has enhanced my appreciation of Eliot's wonderful novel. I think the historical context of the novel is one of the most challenging things to understand (or, it was for me, anyway), as I know almost nothing about the difference between 1830s (-ish) England when the novel is set, and the early 1870s when Eliot wrote it. But it is clear from what she says in the novel that this was important. Thank you again, Dr. Livesey!
I love introductions and reviews of major works like this. Very very helpful! Clear, multi-perspective, symphonic. I think that now, so long after the writing of these masterpieces, that with cultures and many things (not all things) having changed, we gain a lot by adding our ability to contemplate relevance, issues, to expand our perspectives and perceptions, and to consider the past, present and future, much better off for having taken the time to really indulge in quality time contemplation, tipped off by coaches who are First-Rate minds like a great writer, great artists, great scientist, great activist, great hearts, great humanists, etc., who often have lived these events in their rich complexity with the fewest filters between themselves and events. It's an essential way to help coach our own understanding and subsequent behavior. George Eliot had a first-rate mind. Her thinking and ability to communicate are magnificent and lucid, on point, comprehensive. Eliot, Steinbeck, Dickens, Dante, Mark Twain, Atwood, Oriosto, Aristophanes, and hundreds more. Thank you, Dr. Ruth Livesey!
Reading Middlemarch has been such a fantastic journey. Its the prowess of George Eliot's pen that made me empathize with all the characters. I absolutely loved reading the chapters about Dorothea and Mary Garth.
Thank you. I’ve decided to read Middlemarch slowly and bolster each chapter with going back over etc. looking forward to it
I loved the comedy of this novel. The banter between Dorothea and Celia is brilliant!
I love Middlemarch by George Eliot: it made me fall in love with classics 💛
This was a fascinating discussion. I liked the way Dr. Livesey at the end highlighted a passage where we see things from Casaubon's perspective, at the beginning of Chapter 29. One passage says "he would neglect no arrangement for her happiness; in return, he should receive family pleasures and leave behind him that copy of himself which seemed so urgently required of a man." This would seem to indicate that Casaubon was not impotent, or at least didn't believe himself to be so, or else it makes no sense.
The Scottish historian, Neal Ascherson, argued in The Independent, “The truth about Casaubon: a great intellect destroyed by a silly woman” that Casaubon was a genius, and not a pretentious dullard. Supposing he is correct, Middlemarch shows the way rude, self-centred geniuses are generally treated by the people around them, not, like Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes, loved and adored in spite of their rudeness, but ridiculed and disliked. The book leaves the way open for different interpretations of Casaubon, and the reader must decide for himself.
I want more of this! Such a wonderful analysis.
Just finished it last night. I liked it very much. The last 300 pages or so went so fast! My favorite character was Mary Garth, but its impossible not to love Dorothea!
Yes, I liked Mary. I also rather liked Rosamund for all her selfish and thoughtless ways. Dorothea is wonderful and one grows with her.
Middlemarch is a masterpiece. Fascinating analysis of the novel.
Thank you for such a helpful insight. I'm finding the novel difficult in places, especially the more philosophical passages, but enjoyable and refreshing.
Interesting analysis. Thanks❤I truly love this novel.
Thank you for this. It's a really great overview of key themes, especially with regard to ways of seeing.
Just finished it yesterday on the Edinburgh to Kings X train. It took me 2 months to read, but it's a masterpiece. I can't believe quite how good this book is. So many wonderful characters. If you have any inclination to read it, please do.
Took me 3 months but I absolutely loved it
Thank you for your insight. A quite astonishing book, “But why always Dorothea…”
I just finished Middlemarch and loved it. So rich in psychological insight.
That was a great review. Thank you.
Interesting review. Thank you!
Amazing. Thank you.
Thanks
Thank you
I really like this channel
The language is what most fascinates me but also irritates me especially as the Proustian subordinates climb and almost make my head spins.Yes,doubtless,a book to be read and reread and always something afresh and new seem to jump out of it.
Caleb Garth is the best!
Very insightful
'Monster without a brain' - harsh.
✌️💚
Rosy and her rose colored lenses.
You talk about Catholic emancipation and the Reform Act. How aware of these issues do you think her reader were. I have to wonder. If you took average reader today in the US, they couldn't tell you anything about the Voting Rights Act (which is similar in importance to the Reform Act) I can't help but think that we (academics in particular) over estimate reader knowledge. This doesn't (of course) take away from thre novel but is important to think about in terms of its popularity at the time.
Always appreciate he vids. Felix holt and deronda r both even better. Ester Lyons an even better tale in Felix than Dorothea Brooke. mM seemed excessively didactic to me. Great book but I am clueless why the academic community insists on focusing on this one.
The setting of MIddlemarch isn't rural - it's a small town.
It is both. Middlemarch itself is a town, a newly industrialising one. But many of the main families in the story are the landed gentry who live in the rural areas outside the town. And the tension between the two is part of the story - eg Mr Brooke’s (landed gentry) ill-advised tilt at Parliament as a pro-reformer, which is a kind of class betrayal that is designed to appeal to the townsfolk but unsettles the other landed gentry.
Is it fair to say that no woman on Earth has achieved anything as good as this, even after half a century of Women's Lib?
No, it's not fair to say that. It also shows your extraordinary ignorance.
It's fair to say that no woman on Earth would ask a question as stupid as that.
@@maryamkim1281 To be fair, has there been a finer literary work (written by either gender) since?
@@existentialistremnant6231 I don't think it was the question as much as the way it was asked? I know what he was trying to say but it didn't come across right.
George Eliot was a woman, you nitwit.