I was partial to this comment of Mead's: "This notion---that we each have our own center of gravity, but must come to discover that others weigh the world differently than we do---is one that is constantly repeated in the book. The necessity of growing out of such self-centeredness is the theme of Middlemarch."
Mead is so incredibly thorough in her research and portrayal of George Eliot. She must've spent hours and hours of enjoyable time in adding to her vast collection of information. But the clincher for me was a bit at the first of the book when she's going to be able to read a journal of Eliot's stored in the rare book collection of the New York Public Library. What thrilled me was Mead describing the book opened in front of her, and the subtle scent of a fireplace stealing over her. She imagined all the places that journal had been stored, and thinking of Eliot holding it, writing in it and maybe the smoldering of a fireplace where Eliot actually lived.
Real folks writing real books. She made George Eliot come alive for me. Now. Considering Middlemarch is Rebecca Mead's favorite of novels, I'd love to find a similar work for my own favorite, Jane Eyre. Satisfying that would surely be.
I highly recommend this book, especially for lovers of 19th century fiction, which for me is the perfect era. Excellent work. Excellent.
(i received this book free to review from blogging for books/crown publishing)
