Classics · Literary · Historical
Middlemarch
Set in a provincial English town around 1830, this novel follows idealistic Dorothea Brooke, the ambitious doctor Lydgate and other residents. Marriage, money, reform and personal ambition shape their disappointments and hopes.
Facts last checked 2026-10-17
- First published
- 1871
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 853
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you want a long, richly observed Victorian novel with a large cast and moral depth.
Skip this if you prefer brisk plots, since it is long and digressive.
The feel
Content warnings
None noted yet.
Quick answers about Middlemarch
- What is Middlemarch about?
- Set in a provincial English town around 1830, this novel follows idealistic Dorothea Brooke, the ambitious doctor Lydgate and other residents. Marriage, money, reform and personal ambition shape their disappointments and hopes.
- Who should read Middlemarch?
- Read it if you want a long, richly observed Victorian novel with a large cast and moral depth. Skip it if you prefer brisk plots, since it is long and digressive.
- How long and how fast is Middlemarch?
- It is a slow-paced, long read of about 853 pages, first published in 1871.
- Does Middlemarch have content warnings?
- We have not noted any content warnings for this book yet.
- Can I borrow Middlemarch for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Middlemarch; the borrow button above searches it for you.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
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| Ebook | ||
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| Audiobook | ||
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