Middlemarch

Middlemarch, A Study of Provincial Life is a novel by the English author Mary Anne Evans, who wrote as George Eliot. It first appeared in eight installments in 1871 and 1872. Set in a fictitious English Midland town in 1829-1832, it follows distinct, intersecting stories with many characters. Issues include the status of women, the nature of marriage, idealism, self-interest, religion, hypocrisy, political reform, and education. Despite comic elements, Middlemarch uses realism to encompass historical events: the 1832 Reform Act, early railways, and the accession of King William IV. It looks at medicine of the time and reactionary views in a settled community facing unwelcome change. Eliot began writing the two pieces forming the novel in 1869-1870 and completed it in 1871. Initial reviews were mixed, but it is now seen widely as her best work and one of the great English novels.

The sheer magnitude of this work might be a deterrent when you first decide to flip its pages, but if you think of it as a modern-day series with installments, then you shouldn't have any trouble reading it. As a battle and analysis of class structure, you are gripped between the two idealistic views of the main characters, and honestly, I had a tough time deciding who to root for, which at times can be taxing, because the emotional tug-a-war gets a little rough throughout, but eventually you will find yourself coming down on one side of the rope, at least I did. If you struggle to pick up a novel so voluminous, read it solely on the fact a woman had to write this piece while pretending to be a man, and just knowing the people who oppressed this woman might just role over in their grave because you chose to read it, would be enough for me.