excellent reading; irritating music

Would you listen to Middlemarch again? Why?

Very good abridged version of a very long, complex novel. Keeps the main story lines and characters and makes me (at any rate) want to reread the whole book again.

Who was your favorite character and why?

All the main characters are believable and beautifully written, especially the women. I'm very fond of Mary Garth, practical and sensible like her parents, and , of course, Dorothea.
It is fascinating to watch her growth from a naive young girl to remarkable young woman.

What about Carole Boyd’s performance did you like?

She really understands the characters and by subtle changes of tone and speed as well as accents brings out the differences in age, gender and social status.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The last scene wit Dorothea and Rosamond when Dorothea pleads for Dr .Lydgate and Rosamond explains about Will Ladislaw's devotion

Any additional comments?

The intrusive and over-long musical "interludes" prevented my giving this book 5* all round.
A few seconds of gentle piano would be quite enough. Don't need the strings!
Worst of all it is background to several of the most important and emotional scenes and distracts from their impact.

PS
I would love to hear Carol Boyd (or John Castle?) reading Wilkie Collins's "No Name" , another long but brilliant Victorian novel.

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