Enjoyable and fulfilling read over the Christmas holiday, 05 Jan 2009
This is an engaging and comprehensive unfolding of rural life before the reforms of the 1830s, especially relevant when viewed from our current economic malaise. Was taken by the warmth of the human relations, which are expressed in some nice touches, e.g. that Ladislaw had a habit of lying on the hearth rug when visiting friends. Also liked how we are put into the mind of the sinners (Bulstrode with his dubious past and Fred Vincy with his debt) and shown how they justify their misdeeds, lessons for all here. There were some inconsistencies; why did Dorothea hesitate if she did not care about money and reputation? Not a particularly easy read, but hugely enjoyable, my best book of 2008 by far.

A mighty, awe-inspiring work, 16 Dec 2008
Middlemarch relates the tales of several inhabitants of the eponymous village, each from different social backgrounds. The detail and naturalistic feel of the dialogue and the characters' behaviour is very impressive, unparalleled in English literature of the time. In her approach to fiction, George Eliot is in many respects the antithesis of her famed contemporary Charles Dickens.
Though Dorothea Brooke is generally considered the central figure of the novel, several other characters are also explored in minute detail. These include Tertius Lydgate, a young doctor, a proud, reserved man. Though his is a noble nature, his pride causes him to lose popularity among the villagers, thus thwarting his lofty ambitions. There is a bittersweet ring of truth about the progress of Dr. Lydgate and in Eliot's summary of his later career in the closing paragraphs; he is a figure we all recognise, I feel.
Then there is Fred Vincy, a feckless young man, though tender-hearted. A most engaging character, I thought, and I followed with eagerness his attempts to redeem himself from the folly of his youth, hoping to win the affection of the woman he loves.
Dorothea Brooke herself is an extremely high-minded young lady, as well as possessing much perfection of form, we are told. Though I know little of George Eliot, I would guess that Dorothea is an idealised version of the author herself. I would consider her a slightly less successful creation than the afore-described, as Eliot does not seem to be able to keep the objectivity that is her trademark when describing Dorothea, and is almost gushing in her praise of this virtuous young lady at times.

Overall, though, I enjoyed this book greatly, much more than I had anticipated as I had an impression of George Eliot as being dull, humourless and overly-intellectual. However, her detailed explorations of character are extremely impressive, and this extends to characters of all descriptions from the drunken wretch Raffles to dried-up Mr. Casaubon. Her knowledge of all facets of humanity is quite extraordinary and there is an unexpected depth of feeling that surges to the surface at many points in the book.
This book is a tour de force of literary fiction and worthy of its place in the canon of great English novels.

not a favourite., 20 Aug 2008
I found this book very long and dull. I enjoyed parts of the story but Often the storytelling is replaced by pages and pages of politics.
It has its devotees though and is not entirely without merit so I guess all must judge for themselves. I really wanted to enjoy it but it just didn't press the right buttons for me.

I couldn't reccomend it.

Brilliant book, expertly read, 07 Aug 2008
It really shows that Carole Boyd, who reads this audio version, has spent years working on The Archers. She easily holds your attention and all the characters are distinguishable from each other. The reading is complemented by short sections of music at appropriate points. I could listen to it repeatedly.

Simply the Best, 11 Jul 2008
Quite simply the greatest novel written in the English language. Beautifully written and full of insight into the human condition.

Enjoyable and fulfilling read over the Christmas holiday, 05 Jan 2009
This is an engaging and comprehensive unfolding of rural life before the reforms of the 1830s, especially relevant when viewed from our current economic malaise. Was taken by the warmth of the human relations, which are expressed in some nice touches, e.g. that Ladislaw had a habit of lying on the hearth rug when visiting friends. Also liked how we are put into the mind of the sinners (Bulstrode with his dubious past and Fred Vincy with his debt) and shown how they justify their misdeeds, lessons for all here. There were some inconsistencies; why did Dorothea hesitate if she did not care about money and reputation? Not a particularly easy read, but hugely enjoyable, my best book of 2008 by far.

A mighty, awe-inspiring work, 16 Dec 2008
Middlemarch relates the tales of several inhabitants of the eponymous village, each from different social backgrounds. The detail and naturalistic feel of the dialogue and the characters' behaviour is very impressive, unparalleled in English literature of the time. In her approach to fiction, George Eliot is in many respects the antithesis of her famed contemporary Charles Dickens.
Though Dorothea Brooke is generally considered the central figure of the novel, several other characters are also explored in minute detail. These include Tertius Lydgate, a young doctor, a proud, reserved man. Though his is a noble nature, his pride causes him to lose popularity among the villagers, thus thwarting his lofty ambitions. There is a bittersweet ring of truth about the progress of Dr. Lydgate and in Eliot's summary of his later career in the closing paragraphs; he is a figure we all recognise, I feel.
Then there is Fred Vincy, a feckless young man, though tender-hearted. A most engaging character, I thought, and I followed with eagerness his attempts to redeem himself from the folly of his youth, hoping to win the affection of the woman he loves.
Dorothea Brooke herself is an extremely high-minded young lady, as well as possessing much perfection of form, we are told. Though I know little of George Eliot, I would guess that Dorothea is an idealised version of the author herself. I would consider her a slightly less successful creation than the afore-described, as Eliot does not seem to be able to keep the objectivity that is her trademark when describing Dorothea, and is almost gushing in her praise of this virtuous young lady at times.

Overall, though, I enjoyed this book greatly, much more than I had anticipated as I had an impression of George Eliot as being dull, humourless and overly-intellectual. However, her detailed explorations of character are extremely impressive, and this extends to characters of all descriptions from the drunken wretch Raffles to dried-up Mr. Casaubon. Her knowledge of all facets of humanity is quite extraordinary and there is an unexpected depth of feeling that surges to the surface at many points in the book.
This book is a tour de force of literary fiction and worthy of its place in the canon of great English novels.

not a favourite., 20 Aug 2008
I found this book very long and dull. I enjoyed parts of the story but Often the storytelling is replaced by pages and pages of politics.
It has its devotees though and is not entirely without merit so I guess all must judge for themselves. I really wanted to enjoy it but it just didn't press the right buttons for me.

I couldn't reccomend it.

Brilliant book, expertly read, 07 Aug 2008
It really shows that Carole Boyd, who reads this audio version, has spent years working on The Archers. She easily holds your attention and all the characters are distinguishable from each other. The reading is complemented by short sections of music at appropriate points. I could listen to it repeatedly.

Simply the Best, 11 Jul 2008
Quite simply the greatest novel written in the English language. Beautifully written and full of insight into the human condition.

Enjoyable and fulfilling read over the Christmas holiday, 05 Jan 2009
This is an engaging and comprehensive unfolding of rural life before the reforms of the 1830s, especially relevant when viewed from our current economic malaise. Was taken by the warmth of the human relations, which are expressed in some nice touches, e.g. that Ladislaw had a habit of lying on the hearth rug when visiting friends. Also liked how we are put into the mind of the sinners (Bulstrode with his dubious past and Fred Vincy with his debt) and shown how they justify their misdeeds, lessons for all here. There were some inconsistencies; why did Dorothea hesitate if she did not care about money and reputation? Not a particularly easy read, but hugely enjoyable, my best book of 2008 by far.

A mighty, awe-inspiring work, 16 Dec 2008
Middlemarch relates the tales of several inhabitants of the eponymous village, each from different social backgrounds. The detail and naturalistic feel of the dialogue and the characters' behaviour is very impressive, unparalleled in English literature of the time. In her approach to fiction, George Eliot is in many respects the antithesis of her famed contemporary Charles Dickens.
Though Dorothea Brooke is generally considered the central figure of the novel, several other characters are also explored in minute detail. These include Tertius Lydgate, a young doctor, a proud, reserved man. Though his is a noble nature, his pride causes him to lose popularity among the villagers, thus thwarting his lofty ambitions. There is a bittersweet ring of truth about the progress of Dr. Lydgate and in Eliot's summary of his later career in the closing paragraphs; he is a figure we all recognise, I feel.
Then there is Fred Vincy, a feckless young man, though tender-hearted. A most engaging character, I thought, and I followed with eagerness his attempts to redeem himself from the folly of his youth, hoping to win the affection of the woman he loves.
Dorothea Brooke herself is an extremely high-minded young lady, as well as possessing much perfection of form, we are told. Though I know little of George Eliot, I would guess that Dorothea is an idealised version of the author herself. I would consider her a slightly less successful creation than the afore-described, as Eliot does not seem to be able to keep the objectivity that is her trademark when describing Dorothea, and is almost gushing in her praise of this virtuous young lady at times.

Overall, though, I enjoyed this book greatly, much more than I had anticipated as I had an impression of George Eliot as being dull, humourless and overly-intellectual. However, her detailed explorations of character are extremely impressive, and this extends to characters of all descriptions from the drunken wretch Raffles to dried-up Mr. Casaubon. Her knowledge of all facets of humanity is quite extraordinary and there is an unexpected depth of feeling that surges to the surface at many points in the book.
This book is a tour de force of literary fiction and worthy of its place in the canon of great English novels.

not a favourite., 20 Aug 2008
I found this book very long and dull. I enjoyed parts of the story but Often the storytelling is replaced by pages and pages of politics.
It has its devotees though and is not entirely without merit so I guess all must judge for themselves. I really wanted to enjoy it but it just didn't press the right buttons for me.

I couldn't reccomend it.

Brilliant book, expertly read, 07 Aug 2008
It really shows that Carole Boyd, who reads this audio version, has spent years working on The Archers. She easily holds your attention and all the characters are distinguishable from each other. The reading is complemented by short sections of music at appropriate points. I could listen to it repeatedly.

Simply the Best, 11 Jul 2008
Quite simply the greatest novel written in the English language. Beautifully written and full of insight into the human condition.

Enjoyable and fulfilling read over the Christmas holiday, 05 Jan 2009
This is an engaging and comprehensive unfolding of rural life before the reforms of the 1830s, especially relevant when viewed from our current economic malaise. Was taken by the warmth of the human relations, which are expressed in some nice touches, e.g. that Ladislaw had a habit of lying on the hearth rug when visiting friends. Also liked how we are put into the mind of the sinners (Bulstrode with his dubious past and Fred Vincy with his debt) and shown how they justify their misdeeds, lessons for all here. There were some inconsistencies; why did Dorothea hesitate if she did not care about money and reputation? Not a particularly easy read, but hugely enjoyable, my best book of 2008 by far.

A mighty, awe-inspiring work, 16 Dec 2008
Middlemarch relates the tales of several inhabitants of the eponymous village, each from different social backgrounds. The detail and naturalistic feel of the dialogue and the characters' behaviour is very impressive, unparalleled in English literature of the time. In her approach to fiction, George Eliot is in many respects the antithesis of her famed contemporary Charles Dickens.
Though Dorothea Brooke is generally considered the central figure of the novel, several other characters are also explored in minute detail. These include Tertius Lydgate, a young doctor, a proud, reserved man. Though his is a noble nature, his pride causes him to lose popularity among the villagers, thus thwarting his lofty ambitions. There is a bittersweet ring of truth about the progress of Dr. Lydgate and in Eliot's summary of his later career in the closing paragraphs; he is a figure we all recognise, I feel.
Then there is Fred Vincy, a feckless young man, though tender-hearted. A most engaging character, I thought, and I followed with eagerness his attempts to redeem himself from the folly of his youth, hoping to win the affection of the woman he loves.
Dorothea Brooke herself is an extremely high-minded young lady, as well as possessing much perfection of form, we are told. Though I know little of George Eliot, I would guess that Dorothea is an idealised version of the author herself. I would consider her a slightly less successful creation than the afore-described, as Eliot does not seem to be able to keep the objectivity that is her trademark when describing Dorothea, and is almost gushing in her praise of this virtuous young lady at times.

Overall, though, I enjoyed this book greatly, much more than I had anticipated as I had an impression of George Eliot as being dull, humourless and overly-intellectual. However, her detailed explorations of character are extremely impressive, and this extends to characters of all descriptions from the drunken wretch Raffles to dried-up Mr. Casaubon. Her knowledge of all facets of humanity is quite extraordinary and there is an unexpected depth of feeling that surges to the surface at many points in the book.
This book is a tour de force of literary fiction and worthy of its place in the canon of great English novels.

not a favourite., 20 Aug 2008
I found this book very long and dull. I enjoyed parts of the story but Often the storytelling is replaced by pages and pages of politics.
It has its devotees though and is not entirely without merit so I guess all must judge for themselves. I really wanted to enjoy it but it just didn't press the right buttons for me.

I couldn't reccomend it.

Brilliant book, expertly read, 07 Aug 2008
It really shows that Carole Boyd, who reads this audio version, has spent years working on The Archers. She easily holds your attention and all the characters are distinguishable from each other. The reading is complemented by short sections of music at appropriate points. I could listen to it repeatedly.

Simply the Best, 11 Jul 2008
Quite simply the greatest novel written in the English language. Beautifully written and full of insight into the human condition.

Enjoyable and fulfilling read over the Christmas holiday, 05 Jan 2009
This is an engaging and comprehensive unfolding of rural life before the reforms of the 1830s, especially relevant when viewed from our current economic malaise. Was taken by the warmth of the human relations, which are expressed in some nice touches, e.g. that Ladislaw had a habit of lying on the hearth rug when visiting friends. Also liked how we are put into the mind of the sinners (Bulstrode with his dubious past and Fred Vincy with his debt) and shown how they justify their misdeeds, lessons for all here. There were some inconsistencies; why did Dorothea hesitate if she did not care about money and reputation? Not a particularly easy read, but hugely enjoyable, my best book of 2008 by far.

A mighty, awe-inspiring work, 16 Dec 2008
Middlemarch relates the tales of several inhabitants of the eponymous village, each from different social backgrounds. The detail and naturalistic feel of the dialogue and the characters' behaviour is very impressive, unparalleled in English literature of the time. In her approach to fiction, George Eliot is in many respects the antithesis of her famed contemporary Charles Dickens.
Though Dorothea Brooke is generally considered the central figure of the novel, several other characters are also explored in minute detail. These include Tertius Lydgate, a young doctor, a proud, reserved man. Though his is a noble nature, his pride causes him to lose popularity among the villagers, thus thwarting his lofty ambitions. There is a bittersweet ring of truth about the progress of Dr. Lydgate and in Eliot's summary of his later career in the closing paragraphs; he is a figure we all recognise, I feel.
Then there is Fred Vincy, a feckless young man, though tender-hearted. A most engaging character, I thought, and I followed with eagerness his attempts to redeem himself from the folly of his youth, hoping to win the affection of the woman he loves.
Dorothea Brooke herself is an extremely high-minded young lady, as well as possessing much perfection of form, we are told. Though I know little of George Eliot, I would guess that Dorothea is an idealised version of the author herself. I would consider her a slightly less successful creation than the afore-described, as Eliot does not seem to be able to keep the objectivity that is her trademark when describing Dorothea, and is almost gushing in her praise of this virtuous young lady at times.

Overall, though, I enjoyed this book greatly, much more than I had anticipated as I had an impression of George Eliot as being dull, humourless and overly-intellectual. However, her detailed explorations of character are extremely impressive, and this extends to characters of all descriptions from the drunken wretch Raffles to dried-up Mr. Casaubon. Her knowledge of all facets of humanity is quite extraordinary and there is an unexpected depth of feeling that surges to the surface at many points in the book.
This book is a tour de force of literary fiction and worthy of its place in the canon of great English novels.

not a favourite., 20 Aug 2008
I found this book very long and dull. I enjoyed parts of the story but Often the storytelling is replaced by pages and pages of politics.
It has its devotees though and is not entirely without merit so I guess all must judge for themselves. I really wanted to enjoy it but it just didn't press the right buttons for me.

I couldn't reccomend it.

Brilliant book, expertly read, 07 Aug 2008
It really shows that Carole Boyd, who reads this audio version, has spent years working on The Archers. She easily holds your attention and all the characters are distinguishable from each other. The reading is complemented by short sections of music at appropriate points. I could listen to it repeatedly.

Simply the Best, 11 Jul 2008
Quite simply the greatest novel written in the English language. Beautifully written and full of insight into the human condition.

WOW!, 04 Mar 2008
Awesome book, simply awesome to the max. The kind of book that's so thrilling, you can't help but jump in the air and exclaim your glee with extreme volume every other page - indeed, I was thrown off the train for that very reason. I finished reading the book at the station in a feast of jumping and yelling, and I regret nothing.

Can't wait for the sequel!

A beautiful novel., 20 Oct 2007
Silas Marner is an honest and kind master weaver whose life is destroyed by the betrayal of his trusted best friend.
Having lost his home, friends and family, fiancée, his job and most significantly - his faith in God, he finds himself in the rural village of Raveloe a bitter and broken man. He spends his days alone and unhappy, weaving linen for the village folk - his loom and the money he makes from it becoming an obsession, and his only hateful joy is the habitual counting of his hard earned bags of gold which he keeps hidden in a hole under his bed.
One night his precious money is stolen and Silas is heartbroken and inconsolable until the day when he finds a beautiful baby girl asleep in front of his fire. As no one knows where she came from He decides to keep her, bringing her up as his own and she transforms his life, bringing hope, love, faith and happiness to an otherwise meaningless existence.
Although I found this novel difficult to get into, the first few chapters I found hard going, I am glad I persevered as this is a genuine classic.


Reversal of fortune, recovery of faith, 23 Nov 2005
George Eliot, born Marian Evans in 1819, spent most of her early life in rural Warwickshire. This early upbringing is apparent from her easy comfort in writing about country settings, with attention to detail and niceties that a born-Londoner would generally not be able to provide. Eliot's life was not that of the typical Victorian lady; she worked in publishing, including periodicals, translations, and writing her own fiction. Eliot led a 'colourful' life; living in a common-law marriage with Lewes, a man who left his wife and children for her, she then married after his death a man twenty years her junior, only to die eight months later.

Silas is a weaver, a rather grumpy and sour man, whose primary occupation and avocation is the making of money. He is an outsider in Raveloe, having been driven from his earlier community under the false accusation of theft, an accusation that also cost him his engagement to his beloved, and left him with little faith in human nature, particularly that of the church-ly humans.

The high society in Raveloe reached the pinnacle in the Cass family. Squire Cass had two sons, Godfrey and Dunstan, each his own unique form of scoundrel. Godfrey, who had an illicit marriage to a local barmaid Molly, is being blackmailed by his spendthrift brother Dunstan. Alas, Godfrey is expected to marry another, Nancy Lammeter, daughter of another society family. Godfrey attempts to buy off Dunstan with his horse, Wildfire, and during a journey to sell the horse Dunstan accidentally injures and kills Wildfire.

Dunstan is stranded in the countryside, but sees light from a cottage -- the home of Silas Marner, reputed after fifteen years of weaving and miserly activity of having accumulated a large stash. He steals the bags of money he finds in the deserted cottage, and disappears into the night.

Silas reports the theft, but is unaided. He is heartbroken, for his life's purpose has been the accumulation of this wealth. No one seems to make the connexion between the lost money and the disappearance of Dunstan (one flaw in the novel, in my opinion). Silas gradually recovers from this blow, and the people of Raveloe begin for the first time to see him in terms of friendship.

At a Christmas party, the Cass family is in full celebration, for the upcoming marriage of Godfrey and Nancy. However, Nancy is not pleased, given Godfrey's reputation. Later in the holiday season, Molly makes her way to the Cass estate and confronts Godfrey with a two-year-old daughter in tow. Upon her return from the estate, she falls and dies in a drunken, drug-induced stupor, and the child wanders through the snow to the cottage of Silas. Silas lays claim to the golden-haired child, and Godfrey is relieved to be free from Molly and paternity.

Sixteen years pass, and we come to meet a very different Silas, one who is now a truly human being, who is loved, and has an object of love in his daughter Eppie. Eppie is in fact about to be wed to the nice Aaron Winthrop. Godfrey and Nancy, however, have had a loveless and childless marriage.

Things develop rapidly near the end of the novel. A pond near Silas' cottage is drained, and the remains of Dunstand with two bags of gold coins is found. Godfrey feels compelled to tell his wife now everything, how Dunstan dishonoured the family, how he (Godfrey) was being blackmailed, and admits his paternity of Eppie. Nancy is strangely tolerant -- she only complains of not having been told sooner. They decide to demand that Eppie be returned to them.

In a beautiful scene of compassion and love, Eppie, given the free choice of deciding between Silas and connexion with the noble Cass family, opts for the man who was her true father, and chooses to remain with Silas.

Later, Silas and Eppie revisit Lantern Yard, from which Silas was expelled so many years before. Here in no longer the old church, his old home, or his old friends -- all has changed; life has gone on. The old place is dirty and noisy by comparison to the serene Raveloe. The question of Silas' guilt or innocence cannot be resolved, but then, is no longer a question of concern for anyone in either place. Eppie then marries Aaron, in a wedding paid for by Godfrey, who cannot attend due to business, and Eppie declares in the end that 'nobody could be happier than we are.'

Elliot intended to show that misfortune can lead to greater things, and provided a typical Victorian happy ending.

This novel has been a traditional one assigned to students of secondary school age for decades now; it is a classic, fairly simple in construction and vocabulary, and brings up the timeless themes of good, evil, fate, and has a wide range of characters who change over time. Alas, many school-age readers come away cold, often determined never to read another novel again, as it is presented poorly and not put in a more modern context which students will more readily understand. But, it remains a good story, and a fine representative of the Victorian novel.

Tedium that eats away at your soul, 02 Jun 2005
Don't read this. It's a hundred pages too long and a very poor story to begin with.

A novel for people who are looking for fancy prose rather than substance, though I doubt even these people could put up with the smug, self indulgent, ridiculously overrated writing of George Elliot and the dispicable excuse for a story.

Plus, the character of Silas Marner is not at all likeable and impossible to empathise with, unless you're one of those people who does the weekly shopping dressed in only a bathrobe and a ski mask (I don't care how many 'not useful' clicks that earns me).

Pure gold, 08 Nov 2004
If you have a heart, the story of Silas Marner will warm it. You are better coming to it fresh, without knowing anything of the simple yet solid plot, so I will say nothing of it. I will just urge you to read this wonderful book. Eliot writes beautifully and from page one, you realize you are in the hands of a true artist. This is a very human, very English story of simple people living through those very basic emotions that make the world turn and give the universe meaning.

Enjoyable and fulfilling read over the Christmas holiday, 05 Jan 2009
This is an engaging and comprehensive unfolding of rural life before the reforms of the 1830s, especially relevant when viewed from our current economic malaise. Was taken by the warmth of the human relations, which are expressed in some nice touches, e.g. that Ladislaw had a habit of lying on the hearth rug when visiting friends. Also liked how we are put into the mind of the sinners (Bulstrode with his dubious past and Fred Vincy with his debt) and shown how they justify their misdeeds, lessons for all here. There were some inconsistencies; why did Dorothea hesitate if she did not care about money and reputation? Not a particularly easy read, but hugely enjoyable, my best book of 2008 by far.

A mighty, awe-inspiring work, 16 Dec 2008
Middlemarch relates the tales of several inhabitants of the eponymous village, each from different social backgrounds. The detail and naturalistic feel of the dialogue and the characters' behaviour is very impressive, unparalleled in English literature of the time. In her approach to fiction, George Eliot is in many respects the antithesis of her famed contemporary Charles Dickens.
Though Dorothea Brooke is generally considered the central figure of the novel, several other characters are also explored in minute detail. These include Tertius Lydgate, a young doctor, a proud, reserved man. Though his is a noble nature, his pride causes him to lose popularity among the villagers, thus thwarting his lofty ambitions. There is a bittersweet ring of truth about the progress of Dr. Lydgate and in Eliot's summary of his later career in the closing paragraphs; he is a figure we all recognise, I feel.
Then there is Fred Vincy, a feckless young man, though tender-hearted. A most engaging character, I thought, and I followed with eagerness his attempts to redeem himself from the folly of his youth, hoping to win the affection of the woman he loves.
Dorothea Brooke herself is an extremely high-minded young lady, as well as possessing much perfection of form, we are told. Though I know little of George Eliot, I would guess that Dorothea is an idealised version of the author herself. I would consider her a slightly less successful creation than the afore-described, as Eliot does not seem to be able to keep the objectivity that is her trademark when describing Dorothea, and is almost gushing in her praise of this virtuous young lady at times.

Overall, though, I enjoyed this book greatly, much more than I had anticipated as I had an impression of George Eliot as being dull, humourless and overly-intellectual. However, her detailed explorations of character are extremely impressive, and this extends to characters of all descriptions from the drunken wretch Raffles to dried-up Mr. Casaubon. Her knowledge of all facets of humanity is quite extraordinary and there is an unexpected depth of feeling that surges to the surface at many points in the book.
This book is a tour de force of literary fiction and worthy of its place in the canon of great English novels.

not a favourite., 20 Aug 2008
I found this book very long and dull. I enjoyed parts of the story but Often the storytelling is replaced by pages and pages of politics.
It has its devotees though and is not entirely without merit so I guess all must judge for themselves. I really wanted to enjoy it but it just didn't press the right buttons for me.

I couldn't reccomend it.

Brilliant book, expertly read, 07 Aug 2008
It really shows that Carole Boyd, who reads this audio version, has spent years working on The Archers. She easily holds your attention and all the characters are distinguishable from each other. The reading is complemented by short sections of music at appropriate points. I could listen to it repeatedly.

Simply the Best, 11 Jul 2008
Quite simply the greatest novel written in the English language. Beautifully written and full of insight into the human condition.

Enjoyable and fulfilling read over the Christmas holiday, 05 Jan 2009
This is an engaging and comprehensive unfolding of rural life before the reforms of the 1830s, especially relevant when viewed from our current economic malaise. Was taken by the warmth of the human relations, which are expressed in some nice touches, e.g. that Ladislaw had a habit of lying on the hearth rug when visiting friends. Also liked how we are put into the mind of the sinners (Bulstrode with his dubious past and Fred Vincy with his debt) and shown how they justify their misdeeds, lessons for all here. There were some inconsistencies; why did Dorothea hesitate if she did not care about money and reputation? Not a particularly easy read, but hugely enjoyable, my best book of 2008 by far.

A mighty, awe-inspiring work, 16 Dec 2008
Middlemarch relates the tales of several inhabitants of the eponymous village, each from different social backgrounds. The detail and naturalistic feel of the dialogue and the characters' behaviour is very impressive, unparalleled in English literature of the time. In her approach to fiction, George Eliot is in many respects the antithesis of her famed contemporary Charles Dickens.
Though Dorothea Brooke is generally considered the central figure of the novel, several other characters are also explored in minute detail. These include Tertius Lydgate, a young doctor, a proud, reserved man. Though his is a noble nature, his pride causes him to lose popularity among the villagers, thus thwarting his lofty ambitions. There is a bittersweet ring of truth about the progress of Dr. Lydgate and in Eliot's summary of his later career in the closing paragraphs; he is a figure we all recognise, I feel.
Then there is Fred Vincy, a feckless young man, though tender-hearted. A most engaging character, I thought, and I followed with eagerness his attempts to redeem himself from the folly of his youth, hoping to win the affection of the woman he loves.
Dorothea Brooke herself is an extremely high-minded young lady, as well as possessing much perfection of form, we are told. Though I know little of George Eliot, I would guess that Dorothea is an idealised version of the author herself. I would consider her a slightly less successful creation than the afore-described, as Eliot does not seem to be able to keep the objectivity that is her trademark when describing Dorothea, and is almost gushing in her praise of this virtuous young lady at times.

Overall, though, I enjoyed this book greatly, much more than I had anticipated as I had an impression of George Eliot as being dull, humourless and overly-intellectual. However, her detailed explorations of character are extremely impressive, and this extends to characters of all descriptions from the drunken wretch Raffles to dried-up Mr. Casaubon. Her knowledge of all facets of humanity is quite extraordinary and there is an unexpected depth of feeling that surges to the surface at many points in the book.
This book is a tour de force of literary fiction and worthy of its place in the canon of great English novels.

not a favourite., 20 Aug 2008
I found this book very long and dull. I enjoyed parts of the story but Often the storytelling is replaced by pages and pages of politics.
It has its devotees though and is not entirely without merit so I guess all must judge for themselves. I really wanted to enjoy it but it just didn't press the right buttons for me.

I couldn't reccomend it.

Brilliant book, expertly read, 07 Aug 2008
It really shows that Carole Boyd, who reads this audio version, has spent years working on The Archers. She easily holds your attention and all the characters are distinguishable from each other. The reading is complemented by short sections of music at appropriate points. I could listen to it repeatedly.

Simply the Best, 11 Jul 2008
Quite simply the greatest novel written in the English language. Beautifully written and full of insight into the human condition.

WOW!, 04 Mar 2008
Awesome book, simply awesome to the max. The kind of book that's so thrilling, you can't help but jump in the air and exclaim your glee with extreme volume every other page - indeed, I was thrown off the train for that very reason. I finished reading the book at the station in a feast of jumping and yelling, and I regret nothing.

Can't wait for the sequel!

A beautiful novel., 20 Oct 2007
Silas Marner is an honest and kind master weaver whose life is destroyed by the betrayal of his trusted best friend.
Having lost his home, friends and family, fiancée, his job and most significantly - his faith in God, he finds himself in the rural village of Raveloe a bitter and broken man. He spends his days alone and unhappy, weaving linen for the village folk - his loom and the money he makes from it becoming an obsession, and his only hateful joy is the habitual counting of his hard earned bags of gold which he keeps hidden in a hole under his bed.
One night his precious money is stolen and Silas is heartbroken and inconsolable until the day when he finds a beautiful baby girl asleep in front of his fire. As no one knows where she came from He decides to keep her, bringing her up as his own and she transforms his life, bringing hope, love, faith and happiness to an otherwise meaningless existence.
Although I found this novel difficult to get into, the first few chapters I found hard going, I am glad I persevered as this is a genuine classic.


Reversal of fortune, recovery of faith, 23 Nov 2005
George Eliot, born Marian Evans in 1819, spent most of her early life in rural Warwickshire. This early upbringing is apparent from her easy comfort in writing about country settings, with attention to detail and niceties that a born-Londoner would generally not be able to provide. Eliot's life was not that of the typical Victorian lady; she worked in publishing, including periodicals, translations, and writing her own fiction. Eliot led a 'colourful' life; living in a common-law marriage with Lewes, a man who left his wife and children for her, she then married after his death a man twenty years her junior, only to die eight months later.

Silas is a weaver, a rather grumpy and sour man, whose primary occupation and avocation is the making of money. He is an outsider in Raveloe, having been driven from his earlier community under the false accusation of theft, an accusation that also cost him his engagement to his beloved, and left him with little faith in human nature, particularly that of the church-ly humans.

The high society in Raveloe reached the pinnacle in the Cass family. Squire Cass had two sons, Godfrey and Dunstan, each his own unique form of scoundrel. Godfrey, who had an illicit marriage to a local barmaid Molly, is being blackmailed by his spendthrift brother Dunstan. Alas, Godfrey is expected to marry another, Nancy Lammeter, daughter of another society family. Godfrey attempts to buy off Dunstan with his horse, Wildfire, and during a journey to sell the horse Dunstan accidentally injures and kills Wildfire.

Dunstan is stranded in the countryside, but sees light from a cottage -- the home of Silas Marner, reputed after fifteen years of weaving and miserly activity of having accumulated a large stash. He steals the bags of money he finds in the deserted cottage, and disappears into the night.

Silas reports the theft, but is unaided. He is heartbroken, for his life's purpose has been the accumulation of this wealth. No one seems to make the connexion between the lost money and the disappearance of Dunstan (one flaw in the novel, in my opinion). Silas gradually recovers from this blow, and the people of Raveloe begin for the first time to see him in terms of friendship.

At a Christmas party, the Cass family is in full celebration, for the upcoming marriage of Godfrey and Nancy. However, Nancy is not pleased, given Godfrey's reputation. Later in the holiday season, Molly makes her way to the Cass estate and confronts Godfrey with a two-year-old daughter in tow. Upon her return from the estate, she falls and dies in a drunken, drug-induced stupor, and the child wanders through the snow to the cottage of Silas. Silas lays claim to the golden-haired child, and Godfrey is relieved to be free from Molly and paternity.

Sixteen years pass, and we come to meet a very different Silas, one who is now a truly human being, who is loved, and has an object of love in his daughter Eppie. Eppie is in fact about to be wed to the nice Aaron Winthrop. Godfrey and Nancy, however, have had a loveless and childless marriage.

Things develop rapidly near the end of the novel. A pond near Silas' cottage is drained, and the remains of Dunstand with two bags of gold coins is found. Godfrey feels compelled to tell his wife now everything, how Dunstan dishonoured the family, how he (Godfrey) was being blackmailed, and admits his paternity of Eppie. Nancy is strangely tolerant -- she only complains of not having been told sooner. They decide to demand that Eppie be returned to them.

In a beautiful scene of compassion and love, Eppie, given the free choice of deciding between Silas and connexion with the noble Cass family, opts for the man who was her true father, and chooses to remain with Silas.

Later, Silas and Eppie revisit Lantern Yard, from which Silas was expelled so many years before. Here in no longer the old church, his old home, or his old friends -- all has changed; life has gone on. The old place is dirty and noisy by comparison to the serene Raveloe. The question of Silas' guilt or innocence cannot be resolved, but then, is no longer a question of concern for anyone in either place. Eppie then marries Aaron, in a wedding paid for by Godfrey, who cannot attend due to business, and Eppie declares in the end that 'nobody could be happier than we are.'

Elliot intended to show that misfortune can lead to greater things, and provided a typical Victorian happy ending.

This novel has been a traditional one assigned to students of secondary school age for decades now; it is a classic, fairly simple in construction and vocabulary, and brings up the timeless themes of good, evil, fate, and has a wide range of characters who change over time. Alas, many school-age readers come away cold, often determined never to read another novel again, as it is presented poorly and not put in a more modern context which students will more readily understand. But, it remains a good story, and a fine representative of the Victorian novel.

Tedium that eats away at your soul, 02 Jun 2005
Don't read this. It's a hundred pages too long and a very poor story to begin with.

A novel for people who are looking for fancy prose rather than substance, though I doubt even these people could put up with the smug, self indulgent, ridiculously overrated writing of George Elliot and the dispicable excuse for a story.

Plus, the character of Silas Marner is not at all likeable and impossible to empathise with, unless you're one of those people who does the weekly shopping dressed in only a bathrobe and a ski mask (I don't care how many 'not useful' clicks that earns me).

Pure gold, 08 Nov 2004
If you have a heart, the story of Silas Marner will warm it. You are better coming to it fresh, without knowing anything of the simple yet solid plot, so I will say nothing of it. I will just urge you to read this wonderful book. Eliot writes beautifully and from page one, you realize you are in the hands of a true artist. This is a very human, very English story of simple people living through those very basic emotions that make the world turn and give the universe meaning.

touching book that will stay with you a while after you read it, 08 Jun 2008
this is my 2nd fav book of all time...the characters are beautifully crafted and so special that you end up really caring what happens to them. Lots of twists and turns...simply brilliant, it is no wonder it was an instant success when it was released in 18..something (!!!!) i really should research that but the book is at the other end of the room and i'm v v lazy!! 1859..there ya go!! A book that will stay with you and inspire you Top class

Why bother?, 14 May 2006
I love George Eliot, who often shows an insight into the beauty and complexity of characters that astounds me. This book, however, shows very little of that. It is the story of one woman's seduction and the repurcussions of that, jutxtaposed with another woman's low-church morality and set in a backdrop of wholesome country life. It embodies a world view which Eliot herself later rejected.

If you want to read a book about seduction, read Hardy's Tess. If you want to read a book about the value of simple country morality, read Eliot's Silais Marner. Either way, unless you have a strong stomach for late Victoian nostalgia, you can give this one a miss.

This is a classic because it's a really good read!, 19 Jun 2001
Right from the first scene, as the sunshine beams into the carpenter's workshop, there's a suggestion of idyllic English countryside about this novel, but, although some of the characters are idealised in places, George Eliot is interested in realism and the story turns on a tragedy which we still see in newspapers today. Despite this, Adam Bede is a good old-fashioned story in the sense that it leaves you gladder for having met its characters and feeling heart-whole from the experience of reading it.

A gripping tale of a honourable life, 13 Jan 2000
Why hasn't anyone written a review for this book? Is it because it's a classic, and therefore one cannot praise it more? I thought it was wonderful. The story of the honest, upright and faithful Adam Bede and his quiet life beautifully unfolds, with deliciously scripted detail. One of the most remarkable things about the book is the that the delightful description does not prevent tension and drama from unfolding, but adds to the suspense of the various situations Adam finds himself in.

Enjoyable and fulfilling read over the Christmas holiday, 05 Jan 2009
This is an engaging and comprehensive unfolding of rural life before the reforms of the 1830s, especially relevant when viewed from our current economic malaise. Was taken by the warmth of the human relations, which are expressed in some nice touches, e.g. that Ladislaw had a habit of lying on the hearth rug when visiting friends. Also liked how we are put into the mind of the sinners (Bulstrode with his dubious past and Fred Vincy with his debt) and shown how they justify their misdeeds, lessons for all here. There were some inconsistencies; why did Dorothea hesitate if she did not care about money and reputation? Not a particularly easy read, but hugely enjoyable, my best book of 2008 by far.

A mighty, awe-inspiring work, 16 Dec 2008
Middlemarch relates the tales of several inhabitants of the eponymous village, each from different social backgrounds. The detail and naturalistic feel of the dialogue and the characters' behaviour is very impressive, unparalleled in English literature of the time. In her approach to fiction, George Eliot is in many respects the antithesis of her famed contemporary Charles Dickens.
Though Dorothea Brooke is generally considered the central figure of the novel, several other characters are also explored in minute detail. These include Tertius Lydgate, a young doctor, a proud, reserved man. Though his is a noble nature, his pride causes him to lose popularity among the villagers, thus thwarting his lofty ambitions. There is a bittersweet ring of truth about the progress of Dr. Lydgate and in Eliot's summary of his later career in the closing paragraphs; he is a figure we all recognise, I feel.
Then there is Fred Vincy, a feckless young man, though tender-hearted. A most engaging character, I thought, and I followed with eagerness his attempts to redeem himself from the folly of his youth, hoping to win the affection of the woman he loves.
Dorothea Brooke herself is an extremely high-minded young lady, as well as possessing much perfection of form, we are told. Though I know little of George Eliot, I would guess that Dorothea is an idealised version of the author herself. I would consider her a slightly less successful creation than the afore-described, as Eliot does not seem to be able to keep the objectivity that is her trademark when describing Dorothea, and is almost gushing in her praise of this virtuous young lady at times.

Overall, though, I enjoyed this book greatly, much more than I had anticipated as I had an impression of George Eliot as being dull, humourless and overly-intellectual. However, her detailed explorations of character are extremely impressive, and this extends to characters of all descriptions from the drunken wretch Raffles to dried-up Mr. Casaubon. Her knowledge of all facets of humanity is quite extraordinary and there is an unexpected depth of feeling that surges to the surface at many points in the book.
This book is a tour de force of literary fiction and worthy of its place in the canon of great English novels.

not a favourite., 20 Aug 2008
I found this book very long and dull. I enjoyed parts of the story but Often the storytelling is replaced by pages and pages of politics.
It has its devotees though and is not entirely without merit so I guess all must judge for themselves. I really wanted to enjoy it but it just didn't press the right buttons for me.

I couldn't reccomend it.

Brilliant book, expertly read, 07 Aug 2008
It really shows that Carole Boyd, who reads this audio version, has spent years working on The Archers. She easily holds your attention and all the characters are distinguishable from each other. The reading is complemented by short sections of music at appropriate points. I could listen to it repeatedly.

Simply the Best, 11 Jul 2008
Quite simply the greatest novel written in the English language. Beautifully written and full of insight into the human condition.

Enjoyable and fulfilling read over the Christmas holiday, 05 Jan 2009
This is an engaging and comprehensive unfolding of rural life before the reforms of the 1830s, especially relevant when viewed from our current economic malaise. Was taken by the warmth of the human relations, which are expressed in some nice touches, e.g. that Ladislaw had a habit of lying on the hearth rug when visiting friends. Also liked how we are put into the mind of the sinners (Bulstrode with his dubious past and Fred Vincy with his debt) and shown how they justify their misdeeds, lessons for all here. There were some inconsistencies; why did Dorothea hesitate if she did not care about money and reputation? Not a particularly easy read, but hugely enjoyable, my best book of 2008 by far.

A mighty, awe-inspiring work, 16 Dec 2008
Middlemarch relates the tales of several inhabitants of the eponymous village, each from different social backgrounds. The detail and naturalistic feel of the dialogue and the characters' behaviour is very impressive, unparalleled in English literature of the time. In her approach to fiction, George Eliot is in many respects the antithesis of her famed contemporary Charles Dickens.
Though Dorothea Brooke is generally considered the central figure of the novel, several other characters are also explored in minute detail. These include Tertius Lydgate, a young doctor, a proud, reserved man. Though his is a noble nature, his pride causes him to lose popularity among the villagers, thus thwarting his lofty ambitions. There is a bittersweet ring of truth about the progress of Dr. Lydgate and in Eliot's summary of his later career in the closing paragraphs; he is a figure we all recognise, I feel.
Then there is Fred Vincy, a feckless young man, though tender-hearted. A most engaging character, I thought, and I followed with eagerness his attempts to redeem himself from the folly of his youth, hoping to win the affection of the woman he loves.
Dorothea Brooke herself is an extremely high-minded young lady, as well as possessing much perfection of form, we are told. Though I know little of George Eliot, I would guess that Dorothea is an idealised version of the author herself. I would consider her a slightly less successful creation than the afore-described, as Eliot does not seem to be able to keep the objectivity that is her trademark when describing Dorothea, and is almost gushing in her praise of this virtuous young lady at times.

Overall, though, I enjoyed this book greatly, much more than I had anticipated as I had an impression of George Eliot as being dull, humourless and overly-intellectual. However, her detailed explorations of character are extremely impressive, and this extends to characters of all descriptions from the drunken wretch Raffles to dried-up Mr. Casaubon. Her knowledge of all facets of humanity is quite extraordinary and there is an unexpected depth of feeling that surges to the surface at many points in the book.
This book is a tour de force of literary fiction and worthy of its place in the canon of great English novels.

not a favourite., 20 Aug 2008
I found this book very long and dull. I enjoyed parts of the story but Often the storytelling is replaced by pages and pages of politics.
It has its devotees though and is not entirely without merit so I guess all must judge for themselves. I really wanted to enjoy it but it just didn't press the right buttons for me.

I couldn't reccomend it.

Brilliant book, expertly read, 07 Aug 2008
It really shows that Carole Boyd, who reads this audio version, has spent years working on The Archers. She easily holds your attention and all the characters are distinguishable from each other. The reading is complemented by short sections of music at appropriate points. I could listen to it repeatedly.

Simply the Best, 11 Jul 2008
Quite simply the greatest novel written in the English language. Beautifully written and full of insight into the human condition.

WOW!, 04 Mar 2008
Awesome book, simply awesome to the max. The kind of book that's so thrilling, you can't help but jump in the air and exclaim your glee with extreme volume every other page - indeed, I was thrown off the train for that very reason. I finished reading the book at the station in a feast of jumping and yelling, and I regret nothing.

Can't wait for the sequel!

A beautiful novel., 20 Oct 2007
Silas Marner is an honest and kind master weaver whose life is destroyed by the betrayal of his trusted best friend.
Having lost his home, friends and family, fiancée, his job and most significantly - his faith in God, he finds himself in the rural village of Raveloe a bitter and broken man. He spends his days alone and unhappy, weaving linen for the village folk - his loom and the money he makes from it becoming an obsession, and his only hateful joy is the habitual counting of his hard earned bags of gold which he keeps hidden in a hole under his bed.
One night his precious money is stolen and Silas is heartbroken and inconsolable until the day when he finds a beautiful baby girl asleep in front of his fire. As no one knows where she came from He decides to keep her, bringing her up as his own and she transforms his life, bringing hope, love, faith and happiness to an otherwise meaningless existence.
Although I found this novel difficult to get into, the first few chapters I found hard going, I am glad I persevered as this is a genuine classic.


Reversal of fortune, recovery of faith, 23 Nov 2005
George Eliot, born Marian Evans in 1819, spent most of her early life in rural Warwickshire. This early upbringing is apparent from her easy comfort in writing about country settings, with attention to detail and niceties that a born-Londoner would generally not be able to provide. Eliot's life was not that of the typical Victorian lady; she worked in publishing, including periodicals, translations, and writing her own fiction. Eliot led a 'colourful' life; living in a common-law marriage with Lewes, a man who left his wife and children for her, she then married after his death a man twenty years her junior, only to die eight months later.

Silas is a weaver, a rather grumpy and sour man, whose primary occupation and avocation is the making of money. He is an outsider in Raveloe, having been driven from his earlier community under the false accusation of theft, an accusation that also cost him his engagement to his beloved, and left him with little faith in human nature, particularly that of the church-ly humans.

The high society in Raveloe reached the pinnacle in the Cass family. Squire Cass had two sons, Godfrey and Dunstan, each his own unique form of scoundrel. Godfrey, who had an illicit marriage to a local barmaid Molly, is being blackmailed by his spendthrift brother Dunstan. Alas, Godfrey is expected to marry another, Nancy Lammeter, daughter of another society family. Godfrey attempts to buy off Dunstan with his horse, Wildfire, and during a journey to sell the horse Dunstan accidentally injures and kills Wildfire.

Dunstan is stranded in the countryside, but sees light from a cottage -- the home of Silas Marner, reputed after fifteen years of weaving and miserly activity of having accumulated a large stash. He steals the bags of money he finds in the deserted cottage, and disappears into the night.

Silas reports the theft, but is unaided. He is heartbroken, for his life's purpose has been the accumulation of this wealth. No one seems to make the connexion between the lost money and the disappearance of Dunstan (one flaw in the novel, in my opinion). Silas gradually recovers from this blow, and the people of Raveloe begin for the first time to see him in terms of friendship.

At a Christmas party, the Cass family is in full celebration, for the upcoming marriage of Godfrey and Nancy. However, Nancy is not pleased, given Godfrey's reputation. Later in the holiday season, Molly makes her way to the Cass estate and confronts Godfrey with a two-year-old daughter in tow. Upon her return from the estate, she falls and dies in a drunken, drug-induced stupor, and the child wanders through the snow to the cottage of Silas. Silas lays claim to the golden-haired child, and Godfrey is relieved to be free from Molly and paternity.

Sixteen years pass, and we come to meet a very different Silas, one who is now a truly human being, who is loved, and has an object of love in his daughter Eppie. Eppie is in fact about to be wed to the nice Aaron Winthrop. Godfrey and Nancy, however, have had a loveless and childless marriage.

Things develop rapidly near the end of the novel. A pond near Silas' cottage is drained, and the remains of Dunstand with two bags of gold coins is found. Godfrey feels compelled to tell his wife now everything, how Dunstan dishonoured the family, how he (Godfrey) was being blackmailed, and admits his paternity of Eppie. Nancy is strangely tolerant -- she only complains of not having been told sooner. They decide to demand that Eppie be returned to them.

In a beautiful scene of compassion and love, Eppie, given the free choice of deciding between Silas and connexion with the noble Cass family, opts for the man who was her true father, and chooses to remain with Silas.

Later, Silas and Eppie revisit Lantern Yard, from which Silas was expelled so many years before. Here in no longer the old church, his old home, or his old friends -- all has changed; life has gone on. The old place is dirty and noisy by comparison to the serene Raveloe. The question of Silas' guilt or innocence cannot be resolved, but then, is no longer a question of concern for anyone in either place. Eppie then marries Aaron, in a wedding paid for by Godfrey, who cannot attend due to business, and Eppie declares in the end that 'nobody could be happier than we are.'

Elliot intended to show that misfortune can lead to greater things, and provided a typical Victorian happy ending.

This novel has been a traditional one assigned to students of secondary school age for decades now; it is a classic, fairly simple in construction and vocabulary, and brings up the timeless themes of good, evil, fate, and has a wide range of characters who change over time. Alas, many school-age readers come away cold, often determined never to read another novel again, as it is presented poorly and not put in a more modern context which students will more readily understand. But, it remains a good story, and a fine representative of the Victorian novel.

Tedium that eats away at your soul, 02 Jun 2005
Don't read this. It's a hundred pages too long and a very poor story to begin with.

A novel for people who are looking for fancy prose rather than substance, though I doubt even these people could put up with the smug, self indulgent, ridiculously overrated writing of George Elliot and the dispicable excuse for a story.

Plus, the character of Silas Marner is not at all likeable and impossible to empathise with, unless you're one of those people who does the weekly shopping dressed in only a bathrobe and a ski mask (I don't care how many 'not useful' clicks that earns me).

Pure gold, 08 Nov 2004
If you have a heart, the story of Silas Marner will warm it. You are better coming to it fresh, without knowing anything of the simple yet solid plot, so I will say nothing of it. I will just urge you to read this wonderful book. Eliot writes beautifully and from page one, you realize you are in the hands of a true artist. This is a very human, very English story of simple people living through those very basic emotions that make the world turn and give the universe meaning.

touching book that will stay with you a while after you read it, 08 Jun 2008
this is my 2nd fav book of all time...the characters are beautifully crafted and so special that you end up really caring what happens to them. Lots of twists and turns...simply brilliant, it is no wonder it was an instant success when it was released in 18..something (!!!!) i really should research that but the book is at the other end of the room and i'm v v lazy!! 1859..there ya go!! A book that will stay with you and inspire you Top class

Why bother?, 14 May 2006
I love George Eliot, who often shows an insight into the beauty and complexity of characters that astounds me. This book, however, shows very little of that. It is the story of one woman's seduction and the repurcussions of that, jutxtaposed with another woman's low-church morality and set in a backdrop of wholesome country life. It embodies a world view which Eliot herself later rejected.

If you want to read a book about seduction, read Hardy's Tess. If you want to read a book about the value of simple country morality, read Eliot's Silais Marner. Either way, unless you have a strong stomach for late Victoian nostalgia, you can give this one a miss.

This is a classic because it's a really good read!, 19 Jun 2001
Right from the first scene, as the sunshine beams into the carpenter's workshop, there's a suggestion of idyllic English countryside about this novel, but, although some of the characters are idealised in places, George Eliot is interested in realism and the story turns on a tragedy which we still see in newspapers today. Despite this, Adam Bede is a good old-fashioned story in the sense that it leaves you gladder for having met its characters and feeling heart-whole from the experience of reading it.

A gripping tale of a honourable life, 13 Jan 2000
Why hasn't anyone written a review for this book? Is it because it's a classic, and therefore one cannot praise it more? I thought it was wonderful. The story of the honest, upright and faithful Adam Bede and his quiet life beautifully unfolds, with deliciously scripted detail. One of the most remarkable things about the book is the that the delightful description does not prevent tension and drama from unfolding, but adds to the suspense of the various situations Adam finds himself in.

"It's not right to sacrifice everything to other people's unreasonable feelings.", 06 Jul 2008
The Mill on the Floss, published in 1860, traces the turmoil in the life of Maggie Tulliver, a young woman who has a streak of independence but who also feels close to her father and her brother and believes that she must always honor their feelings and wishes. Maggie's father is the owner of the Dorlcote Mill on the Floss River, a failing business drawing him into increasing debt to his relatives and creditors. Her brother Tom, with no interest in the mill, is encouraged to learn other skills which may suit him for a higher level of society. When the mill fails and is sold at auction to Lawyer Wakem, the Tullivers become social outcasts, at the mercy of creditors and dependent on their extended family.

Philip Wakem, son of Lawyer Wakem, is a hunchback who has been a school friend of Tom Tulliver and a special friend of Maggie, who treats him kindly and appreciates his intelligence and thoughtfulness. When the mill is sold to Wakem, Tom and Mr. Tulliver end all contact with the Wakem family, and though Maggie continues to see Philip privately, Tom eventually forces her to choose between the family and Philip. Another relationship with Stephen Guest, who has been courting her cousin Lucy, unleashes Maggie's passions and leads to a dramatic conclusion.

Throughout the novel George Eliot (the pen name of Mary Ann Evans) explores the many kinds of love in Maggie's life--her devoted love of her father, her dependence on and love for her brother, her intellectual and kindly love for Philip, and her passionate love of Stephen Guest. Creating a fully drawn character in Maggie, Eliot shows a full picture of a young woman of 1860, trying to be independent, trying to live according to society's strictures, and trying to be true to her own feelings, despite pressures from family and society. Eliot, who herself made the scandalous choice to live openly with a married man for twenty-six years, was thoroughly familiar with these issues herself, and her depictions of such themes as family loyalty and the social conventions and limitations of class carry the ring of truth.

Psychologically astute in the exploration of themes as they affect Maggie, Eliot amplifies these themes through imagery from nature, legend, and even religion. Often melodramatic in plot, the novel remains realistic, even autobiographical, in its attention to character. Though it is not as fully developed as her later novel Middlemarch, Mill on the Floss is still a well developed, thoughtful novel which goes far beyond the pulp fiction being serialized in newspapers and magazines during that time. Mary Whipple


Awful, 19 Mar 2008
On page 355 of our 495-page edition, the author rhetorically asks the reader, "Had anything remarkable happened?" Well, no, it hadn't really; and once the actual plot got going in the next few pages, I resented the long long build-up of dysfunctional family background, peasants with funny accents, and stifling society, which could have been much more nicely done in a chapter or two. Then the actual plot bit, where our heroine is torn between the two potential lovers and her feelings for her brother, was reasonably good, and I wished that the first two-thirds of the book had been as well-written. But then the ending is a complete cop-out, and totally betrays the feminist views that Eliot has ever so mildly been subversively trying to hint at in the rest of the book. Generations must have thought that her message is "Women, if you Disobey Your Man, God's Judgement will Fall Upon You and you Will Drown (or something equally fatal)." I think for most of the book she was trying to say the opposite, but it is not consistently articulated.

Eliot is superb as always! I would give this 10 stars if I could, 06 Oct 2007
This is Eliot's semi autobiographical novel, and tells the story of Maggie Tulliver and her brother Tom. The story takes place in the village of St. Ogg, and at the Mill on The Floss that's been in the Tulliver family for generations. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Eliot depicted the sibling relationship between Maggie and Tom with all of those ups and downs that we all have experienced with our siblings, and culminating in the final finish of the story that thoroughly blew me away. I think I just sat for a good ten minutes just saying Oh Wow over and over again, and then felt the need to seek out my brothers and give them both a big hug.

The joy of reading this novel or any other by Eliot is her gorgeous prose and brilliant characterizations, even with the minor characters. Just be warned, this is not an action packed, sit on the edge of your seat, can't put it down until it's finished type of novel. This is a story to savor and enjoy the multi-faceted characters and the author's glorious prose like a fine red wine or a box of chocolates (or both). If you are looking for high action and adventure, this is not the book for you. Highly recommended for any lover of 19th century English literature, not as dark and brooding as Hardy can be, but the prose is just as lovely, if not better.

stunning end, 02 Aug 2007
Don't read the introduction or any preface to this book if you do not know the story, that is, until you have read Eliot's tale!

All but the 'only child' will recognise the sibling rivalry in this book, as relevant today as when it was written. Often I found myself thinking of my 21st Century brothers whilst reading about 19th Century farmers' wives (!!!) Lots of seemingly modern 'self esteem' issues are developed and honed perfectly.

Eliot takes us through the life of the Tulliver family but does not let you get too comfortable with predicting the plot and imagining how the tale will develop. There are some real surprises in this book, not least, in my opinion the ending.

The end to this story is stunning, in so much as you don't have the time or the build up to see it coming.


A very interesting book, 29 May 2002
I had to study this book for my A level english literature. I was daunted by the length of the book. However, once i started reading it, i couldnt put it down. The story of Maggie is very moving, as she struggles against what is expected of her, and being different. She is always being compared to her perfect cousin who fits the expectations of the time.
When reading this book, the reader must remember that this book was written in the 19th century, when there were very different ideals, and women were treated differently.
There is too much information to put in a small review like this! It also follows Maggies father, as he loses his fortune, and reputation, because of his love of lawsuits!! It follows Tom, Maggies brother, struggle through his education,as he is not as clever as his sister, and also how he regains his fathers fortune.
The main focus of the story is Maggie, it is said to be an almost autobiographical book.
This book is also about reputation, as Maggies mother is always being compared to her sisters, and is very upset to lose her crockery when the house is sold. It is definately worth reading, and once you start you wont be able to put it down, i couldnt!

Enjoyable and fulfilling read over the Christmas holiday, 05 Jan 2009
This is an engaging and comprehensive unfolding of rural life before the reforms of the 1830s, especially relevant when viewed from our current economic malaise. Was taken by the warmth of the human relations, which are expressed in some nice touches, e.g. that Ladislaw had a habit of lying on the hearth rug when visiting friends. Also liked how we are put into the mind of the sinners (Bulstrode with his dubious past and Fred Vincy with his debt) and shown how they justify their misdeeds, lessons for all here. There were some inconsistencies; why did Dorothea hesitate if she did not care about money and reputation? Not a particularly easy read, but hugely enjoyable, my best book of 2008 by far.

A mighty, awe-inspiring work, 16 Dec 2008
Middlemarch relates the tales of several inhabitants of the eponymous village, each from different social backgrounds. The detail and naturalistic feel of the dialogue and the characters' behaviour is very impressive, unparalleled in English literature of the time. In her approach to fiction, George Eliot is in many respects the antithesis of her famed contemporary Charles Dickens.
Though Dorothea Brooke is generally considered the central figure of the novel, several other characters are also explored in minute detail. These include Tertius Lydgate, a young doctor, a proud, reserved man. Though his is a noble nature, his pride causes him to lose popularity among the villagers, thus thwarting his lofty ambitions. There is a bittersweet ring of truth about the progress of Dr. Lydgate and in Eliot's summary of his later career in the closing paragraphs; he is a figure we all recognise, I feel.
Then there is Fred Vincy, a feckless young man, though tender-hearted. A most engaging character, I thought, and I followed with eagerness his attempts to redeem himself from the folly of his youth, hoping to win the affection of the woman he loves.
Dorothea Brooke herself is an extremely high-minded young lady, as well as possessing much perfection of form, we are told. Though I know little of George Eliot, I would guess that Dorothea is an idealised version of the author herself. I would consider her a slightly less successful creation than the afore-described, as Eliot does not seem to be able to keep the objectivity that is her trademark when describing Dorothea, and is almost gushing in her praise of this virtuous young lady at times.

Overall, though, I enjoyed this book greatly, much more than I had anticipated as I had an impression of George Eliot as being dull, humourless and overly-intellectual. However, her detailed explorations of character are extremely impressive, and this extends to characters of all descriptions from the drunken wretch Raffles to dried-up Mr. Casaubon. Her knowledge of all facets of humanity is quite extraordinary and there is an unexpected depth of feeling that surges to the surface at many points in the book.
This book is a tour de force of literary fiction and worthy of its place in the canon of great English novels.

not a favourite., 20 Aug 2008
I found this book very long and dull. I enjoyed parts of the story but Often the storytelling is replaced by pages and pages of politics.
It has its devotees though and is not entirely without merit so I guess all must judge for themselves. I really wanted to enjoy it but it just didn't press the right buttons for me.

I couldn't reccomend it.

Brilliant book, expertly read, 07 Aug 2008
It really shows that Carole Boyd, who reads this audio version, has spent years working on The Archers. She easily holds your attention and all the characters are distinguishable from each other. The reading is complemented by short sections of music at appropriate points. I could listen to it repeatedly.

Simply the Best, 11 Jul 2008
Quite simply the greatest novel written in the English language. Beautifully written and full of insight into the human condition.

Enjoyable and fulfilling read over the Christmas holiday, 05 Jan 2009
This is an engaging and comprehensive unfolding of rural life before the reforms of the 1830s, especially relevant when viewed from our current economic malaise. Was taken by the warmth of the human relations, which are expressed in some nice touches, e.g. that Ladislaw had a habit of lying on the hearth rug when visiting friends. Also liked how we are put into the mind of the sinners (Bulstrode with his dubious past and Fred Vincy with his debt) and shown how they justify their misdeeds, lessons for all here. There were some inconsistencies; why did Dorothea hesitate if she did not care about money and reputation? Not a particularly easy read, but hugely enjoyable, my best book of 2008 by far.

A mighty, awe-inspiring work, 16 Dec 2008
Middlemarch relates the tales of several inhabitants of the eponymous village, each from different social backgrounds. The detail and naturalistic feel of the dialogue and the characters' behaviour is very impressive, unparalleled in English literature of the time. In her approach to fiction, George Eliot is in many respects the antithesis of her famed contemporary Charles Dickens.
Though Dorothea Brooke is generally considered the central figure of the novel, several other characters are also explored in minute detail. These include Tertius Lydgate, a young doctor, a proud, reserved man. Though his is a noble nature, his pride causes him to lose popularity among the villagers, thus thwarting his lofty ambitions. There is a bittersweet ring of truth about the progress of Dr. Lydgate and in Eliot's summary of his later career in the closing paragraphs; he is a figure we all recognise, I feel.
Then there is Fred Vincy, a feckless young man, though tender-hearted. A most engaging character, I thought, and I followed with eagerness his attempts to redeem himself from the folly of his youth, hoping to win the affection of the woman he loves.
Dorothea Brooke herself is an extremely high-minded young lady, as well as possessing much perfection of form, we are told. Though I know little of George Eliot, I would guess that Dorothea is an idealised version of the author herself. I would consider her a slightly less successful creation than the afore-described, as Eliot does not seem to be able to keep the objectivity that is her trademark when describing Dorothea, and is almost gushing in her praise of this virtuous young lady at times.

Overall, though, I enjoyed this book greatly, much more than I had anticipated as I had an impression of George Eliot as being dull, humourless and overly-intellectual. However, her detailed explorations of character are extremely impressive, and this extends to characters of all descriptions from the drunken wretch Raffles to dried-up Mr. Casaubon. Her knowledge of all facets of humanity is quite extraordinary and there is an unexpected depth of feeling that surges to the surface at many points in the book.
This book is a tour de force of literary fiction and worthy of its place in the canon of great English novels.

not a favourite., 20 Aug 2008
I found this book very long and dull. I enjoyed parts of the story but Often the storytelling is replaced by pages and pages of politics.
It has its devotees though and is not entirely without merit so I guess all must judge for themselves. I really wanted to enjoy it but it just didn't press the right buttons for me.

I couldn't reccomend it.

Brilliant book, expertly read, 07 Aug 2008
It really shows that Carole Boyd, who reads this audio version, has spent years working on The Archers. She easily holds your attention and all the characters are distinguishable from each other. The reading is complemented by short sections of music at appropriate points. I could listen to it repeatedly.

Simply the Best, 11 Jul 2008
Quite simply the greatest novel written in the English language. Beautifully written and full of insight into the human condition.

WOW!, 04 Mar 2008
Awesome book, simply awesome to the max. The kind of book that's so thrilling, you can't help but jump in the air and exclaim your glee with extreme volume every other page - indeed, I was thrown off the train for that very reason. I finished reading the book at the station in a feast of jumping and yelling, and I regret nothing.

Can't wait for the sequel!

A beautiful novel., 20 Oct 2007
Silas Marner is an honest and kind master weaver whose life is destroyed by the betrayal of his trusted best friend.
Having lost his home, friends and family, fiancée, his job and most significantly - his faith in God, he finds himself in the rural village of Raveloe a bitter and broken man. He spends his days alone and unhappy, weaving linen for the village folk - his loom and the money he makes from it becoming an obsession, and his only hateful joy is the habitual counting of his hard earned bags of gold which he keeps hidden in a hole under his bed.
One night his precious money is stolen and Silas is heartbroken and inconsolable until the day when he finds a beautiful baby girl asleep in front of his fire. As no one knows where she came from He decides to keep her, bringing her up as his own and she transforms his life, bringing hope, love, faith and happiness to an otherwise meaningless existence.
Although I found this novel difficult to get into, the first few chapters I found hard going, I am glad I persevered as this is a genuine classic.


Reversal of fortune, recovery of faith, 23 Nov 2005
George Eliot, born Marian Evans in 1819, spent most of her early life in rural Warwickshire. This early upbringing is apparent from her easy comfort in writing about country settings, with attention to detail and niceties that a born-Londoner would generally not be able to provide. Eliot's life was not that of the typical Victorian lady; she worked in publishing, including periodicals, translations, and writing her own fiction. Eliot led a 'colourful' life; living in a common-law marriage with Lewes, a man who left his wife and children for her, she then married after his death a man twenty years her junior, only to die eight months later.

Silas is a weaver, a rather grumpy and sour man, whose primary occupation and avocation is the making of money. He is an outsider in Raveloe, having been driven from his earlier community under the false accusation of theft, an accusation that also cost him his engagement to his beloved, and left him with little faith in human nature, particularly that of the church-ly humans.

The high society in Raveloe reached the pinnacle in the Cass family. Squire Cass had two sons, Godfrey and Dunstan, each his own unique form of scoundrel. Godfrey, who had an illicit marriage to a local barmaid Molly, is being blackmailed by his spendthrift brother Dunstan. Alas, Godfrey is expected to marry another, Nancy Lammeter, daughter of another society family. Godfrey attempts to buy off Dunstan with his horse, Wildfire, and during a journey to sell the horse Dunstan accidentally injures and kills Wildfire.

Dunstan is stranded in the countryside, but sees light from a cottage -- the home of Silas Marner, reputed after fifteen years of weaving and miserly activity of having accumulated a large stash. He steals the bags of money he finds in the deserted cottage, and disappears into the night.

Silas reports the theft, but is unaided. He is heartbroken, for his life's purpose has been the accumulation of this wealth. No one seems to make the connexion between the lost money and the disappearance of Dunstan (one flaw in the novel, in my opinion). Silas gradually recovers from this blow, and the people of Raveloe begin for the first time to see him in terms of friendship.

At a Christmas party, the Cass family is in full celebration, for the upcoming marriage of Godfrey and Nancy. However, Nancy is not pleased, given Godfrey's reputation. Later in the holiday season, Molly makes her way to the Cass estate and confronts Godfrey with a two-year-old daughter in tow. Upon her return from the estate, she falls and dies in a drunken, drug-induced stupor, and the child wanders through the snow to the cottage of Silas. Silas lays claim to the golden-haired child, and Godfrey is relieved to be free from Molly and paternity.

Sixteen years pass, and we come to meet a very different Silas, one who is now a truly human being, who is loved, and has an object of love in his daughter Eppie. Eppie is in fact about to be wed to the nice Aaron Winthrop. Godfrey and Nancy, however, have had a loveless and childless marriage.

Things develop rapidly near the end of the novel. A pond near Silas' cottage is drained, and the remains of Dunstand with two bags of gold coins is found. Godfrey feels compelled to tell his wife now everything, how Dunstan dishonoured the family, how he (Godfrey) was being blackmailed, and admits his paternity of Eppie. Nancy is strangely tolerant -- she only complains of not having been told sooner. They decide to demand that Eppie be returned to them.

In a beautiful scene of compassion and love, Eppie, given the free choice of deciding between Silas and connexion with the noble Cass family, opts for the man who was her true father, and chooses to remain with Silas.

Later, Silas and Eppie revisit Lantern Yard, from which Silas was expelled so many years before. Here in no longer the old church, his old home, or his old friends -- all has changed; life has gone on. The old place is dirty and noisy by comparison to the serene Raveloe. The question of Silas' guilt or innocence cannot be resolved, but then, is no longer a question of concern for anyone in either place. Eppie then marries Aaron, in a wedding paid for by Godfrey, who cannot attend due to business, and Eppie declares in the end that 'nobody could be happier than we are.'

Elliot intended to show that misfortune can lead to greater things, and provided a typical Victorian happy ending.

This novel has been a traditional one assigned to students of secondary school age for decades now; it is a classic, fairly simple in construction and vocabulary, and brings up the timeless themes of good, evil, fate, and has a wide range of characters who change over time. Alas, many school-age readers come away cold, often determined never to read another novel again, as it is presented poorly and not put in a more modern context which students will more readily understand. But, it remains a good story, and a fine representative of the Victorian novel.

Tedium that eats away at your soul, 02 Jun 2005
Don't read this. It's a hundred pages too long and a very poor story to begin with.

A novel for people who are looking for fancy prose rather than substance, though I doubt even these people could put up with the smug, self indulgent, ridiculously overrated writing of George Elliot and the dispicable excuse for a story.

Plus, the character of Silas Marner is not at all likeable and impossible to empathise with, unless you're one of those people who does the weekly shopping dressed in only a bathrobe and a ski mask (I don't care how many 'not useful' clicks that earns me).

Pure gold, 08 Nov 2004
If you have a heart, the story of Silas Marner will warm it. You are better coming to it fresh, without knowing anything of the simple yet solid plot, so I will say nothing of it. I will just urge you to read this wonderful book. Eliot writes beautifully and from page one, you realize you are in the hands of a true artist. This is a very human, very English story of simple people living through those very basic emotions that make the world turn and give the universe meaning.

touching book that will stay with you a while after you read it, 08 Jun 2008
this is my 2nd fav book of all time...the characters are beautifully crafted and so special that you end up really caring what happens to them. Lots of twists and turns...simply brilliant, it is no wonder it was an instant success when it was released in 18..something (!!!!) i really should research that but the book is at the other end of the room and i'm v v lazy!! 1859..there ya go!! A book that will stay with you and inspire you Top class

Why bother?, 14 May 2006
I love George Eliot, who often shows an insight into the beauty and complexity of characters that astounds me. This book, however, shows very little of that. It is the story of one woman's seduction and the repurcussions of that, jutxtaposed with another woman's low-church morality and set in a backdrop of wholesome country life. It embodies a world view which Eliot herself later rejected.

If you want to read a book about seduction, read Hardy's Tess. If you want to read a book about the value of simple country morality, read Eliot's Silais Marner. Either way, unless you have a strong stomach for late Victoian nostalgia, you can give this one a miss.

This is a classic because it's a really good read!, 19 Jun 2001
Right from the first scene, as the sunshine beams into the carpenter's workshop, there's a suggestion of idyllic English countryside about this novel, but, although some of the characters are idealised in places, George Eliot is interested in realism and the story turns on a tragedy which we still see in newspapers today. Despite this, Adam Bede is a good old-fashioned story in the sense that it leaves you gladder for having met its characters and feeling heart-whole from the experience of reading it.

A gripping tale of a honourable life, 13 Jan 2000
Why hasn't anyone written a review for this book? Is it because it's a classic, and therefore one cannot praise it more? I thought it was wonderful. The story of the honest, upright and faithful Adam Bede and his quiet life beautifully unfolds, with deliciously scripted detail. One of the most remarkable things about the book is the that the delightful description does not prevent tension and drama from unfolding, but adds to the suspense of the various situations Adam finds himself in.

"It's not right to sacrifice everything to other people's unreasonable feelings.", 06 Jul 2008
The Mill on the Floss, published in 1860, traces the turmoil in the life of Maggie Tulliver, a young woman who has a streak of independence but who also feels close to her father and her brother and believes that she must always honor their feelings and wishes. Maggie's father is the owner of the Dorlcote Mill on the Floss River, a failing business drawing him into increasing debt to his relatives and creditors. Her brother Tom, with no interest in the mill, is encouraged to learn other skills which may suit him for a higher level of society. When the mill fails and is sold at auction to Lawyer Wakem, the Tullivers become social outcasts, at the mercy of creditors and dependent on their extended family.

Philip Wakem, son of Lawyer Wakem, is a hunchback who has been a school friend of Tom Tulliver and a special friend of Maggie, who treats him kindly and appreciates his intelligence and thoughtfulness. When the mill is sold to Wakem, Tom and Mr. Tulliver end all contact with the Wakem family, and though Maggie continues to see Philip privately, Tom eventually forces her to choose between the family and Philip. Another relationship with Stephen Guest, who has been courting her cousin Lucy, unleashes Maggie's passions and leads to a dramatic conclusion.

Throughout the novel George Eliot (the pen name of Mary Ann Evans) explores the many kinds of love in Maggie's life--her devoted love of her father, her dependence on and love for her brother, her intellectual and kindly love for Philip, and her passionate love of Stephen Guest. Creating a fully drawn character in Maggie, Eliot shows a full picture of a young woman of 1860, trying to be independent, trying to live according to society's strictures, and trying to be true to her own feelings, despite pressures from family and society. Eliot, who herself made the scandalous choice to live openly with a married man for twenty-six years, was thoroughly familiar with these issues herself, and her depictions of such themes as family loyalty and the social conventions and limitations of class carry the ring of truth.

Psychologically astute in the exploration of themes as they affect Maggie, Eliot amplifies these themes through imagery from nature, legend, and even religion. Often melodramatic in plot, the novel remains realistic, even autobiographical, in its attention to character. Though it is not as fully developed as her later novel Middlemarch, Mill on the Floss is still a well developed, thoughtful novel which goes far beyond the pulp fiction being serialized in newspapers and magazines during that time. Mary Whipple


Awful, 19 Mar 2008
On page 355 of our 495-page edition, the author rhetorically asks the reader, "Had anything remarkable happened?" Well, no, it hadn't really; and once the actual plot got going in the next few pages, I resented the long long build-up of dysfunctional family background, peasants with funny accents, and stifling society, which could have been much more nicely done in a chapter or two. Then the actual plot bit, where our heroine is torn between the two potential lovers and her feelings for her brother, was reasonably good, and I wished that the first two-thirds of the book had been as well-written. But then the ending is a complete cop-out, and totally betrays the feminist views that Eliot has ever so mildly been subversively trying to hint at in the rest of the book. Generations must have thought that her message is "Women, if you Disobey Your Man, God's Judgement will Fall Upon You and you Will Drown (or something equally fatal)." I think for most of the book she was trying to say the opposite, but it is not consistently articulated.

Eliot is superb as always! I would give this 10 stars if I could, 06 Oct 2007
This is Eliot's semi autobiographical novel, and tells the story of Maggie Tulliver and her brother Tom. The story takes place in the village of St. Ogg, and at the Mill on The Floss that's been in the Tulliver family for generations. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Eliot depicted the sibling relationship between Maggie and Tom with all of those ups and downs that we all have experienced with our siblings, and culminating in the final finish of the story that thoroughly blew me away. I think I just sat for a good ten minutes just saying Oh Wow over and over again, and then felt the need to seek out my brothers and give them both a big hug.

The joy of reading this novel or any other by Eliot is her gorgeous prose and brilliant characterizations, even with the minor characters. Just be warned, this is not an action packed, sit on the edge of your seat, can't put it down until it's finished type of novel. This is a story to savor and enjoy the multi-faceted characters and the author's glorious prose like a fine red wine or a box of chocolates (or both). If you are looking for high action and adventure, this is not the book for you. Highly recommended for any lover of 19th century English literature, not as dark and brooding as Hardy can be, but the prose is just as lovely, if not better.

stunning end, 02 Aug 2007
Don't read the introduction or any preface to this book if you do not know the story, that is, until you have read Eliot's tale!

All but the 'only child' will recognise the sibling rivalry in this book, as relevant today as when it was written. Often I found myself thinking of my 21st Century brothers whilst reading about 19th Century farmers' wives (!!!) Lots of seemingly modern 'self esteem' issues are developed and honed perfectly.

Eliot takes us through the life of the Tulliver family but does not let you get too comfortable with predicting the plot and imagining how the tale will develop. There are some real surprises in this book, not least, in my opinion the ending.

The end to this story is stunning, in so much as you don't have the time or the build up to see it coming.


A very interesting book, 29 May 2002
I had to study this book for my A level english literature. I was daunted by the length of the book. However, once i started reading it, i couldnt put it down. The story of Maggie is very moving, as she struggles against what is expected of her, and being different. She is always being compared to her perfect cousin who fits the expectations of the time.
When reading this book, the reader must remember that this book was written in the 19th century, when there were very different ideals, and women were treated differently.
There is too much information to put in a small review like this! It also follows Maggies father, as he loses his fortune, and reputation, because of his love of lawsuits!! It follows Tom, Maggies brother, struggle through his education,as he is not as clever as his sister, and also how he regains his fathers fortune.
The main focus of the story is Maggie, it is said to be an almost autobiographical book.
This book is also about reputation, as Maggies mother is always being compared to her sisters, and is very upset to lose her crockery when the house is sold. It is definately worth reading, and once you start you wont be able to put it down, i couldnt!

WOW!, 04 Mar 2008
Awesome book, simply awesome to the max. The kind of book that's so thrilling, you can't help but jump in the air and exclaim your glee with extreme volume every other page - indeed, I was thrown off the train for that very reason. I finished reading the book at the station in a feast of jumping and yelling, and I regret nothing.

Can't wait for the sequel!

A beautiful novel., 20 Oct 2007
Silas Marner is an honest and kind master weaver whose life is destroyed by the betrayal of his trusted best friend.
Having lost his home, friends and family, fiancée, his job and most significantly - his faith in God, he finds himself in the rural village of Raveloe a bitter and broken man. He spends his days alone and unhappy, weaving linen for the village folk - his loom and the money he makes from it becoming an obsession, and his only hateful joy is the habitual counting of his hard earned bags of gold which he keeps hidden in a hole under his bed.
One night his precious money is stolen and Silas is heartbroken and inconsolable until the day when he finds a beautiful baby girl asleep in front of his fire. As no one knows where she came from He decides to keep her, bringing her up as his own and she transforms his life, bringing hope, love, faith and happiness to an otherwise meaningless existence.
Although I found this novel difficult to get into, the first few chapters I found hard going, I am glad I persevered as this is a genuine classic.


Reversal of fortune, recovery of faith, 23 Nov 2005
George Eliot, born Marian Evans in 1819, spent most of her early life in rural Warwickshire. This early upbringing is apparent from her easy comfort in writing about country settings, with attention to detail and niceties that a born-Londoner would generally not be able to provide. Eliot's life was not that of the typical Victorian lady; she worked in publishing, including periodicals, translations, and writing her own fiction. Eliot led a 'colourful' life; living in a common-law marriage with Lewes, a man who left his wife and children for her, she then married after his death a man twenty years her junior, only to die eight months later.

Silas is a weaver, a rather grumpy and sour man, whose primary occupation and avocation is the making of money. He is an outsider in Raveloe, having been driven from his earlier community under the false accusation of theft, an accusation that also cost him his engagement to his beloved, and left him with little faith in human nature, particularly that of the church-ly humans.

The high society in Raveloe reached the pinnacle in the Cass family. Squire Cass had two sons, Godfrey and Du