Literary · Family saga
Middlesex
Cal Stephanides narrates three generations of a Greek family, from Smyrna to Detroit, and explains how a family secret led to his being born intersex. He also tells of growing up as a girl.
Facts last checked 2026-10-17
- First published
- 2002
- Pace
- Medium
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 548
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you like big, voice-driven family sagas with history and humour.
Skip this if you prefer short novels or are uneasy about a story centred on a gene and family incest.
The feel
Content warnings
Also reported by Hardcover readers:
Quick answers about Middlesex
- What is Middlesex about?
- Cal Stephanides narrates three generations of a Greek family, from Smyrna to Detroit, and explains how a family secret led to his being born intersex. He also tells of growing up as a girl.
- Who should read Middlesex?
- Read it if you like big, voice-driven family sagas with history and humour. Skip it if you prefer short novels or are uneasy about a story centred on a gene and family incest.
- How long and how fast is Middlesex?
- It is a medium-paced, long read of about 548 pages, first published in 2002.
- Does Middlesex have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Incest, Homophobia.
- Can I borrow Middlesex for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Middlesex; the borrow button above searches it for you.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
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| Print, new | ||
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| Ebook | ||
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| Audiobook | ||
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