Middlemarch

Set in the fictional town of Middlemarch during the early 1830s, the novel features a complex web of interrelated plots and a diverse cast of characters. It explores significant themes such as women's status, marriage dynamics, idealism versus self-interest, religious hypocrisy, political reform, and education. With a leisurely pace and a mildly didactic tone, the narrative occasionally allows the author's voice to emerge, providing a broad and insightful perspective on the societal issues of the time.