The BBC period drama adaptation of George Eliot's literary masterpiece 'Middlemarch' is being celebrated as the finest of its kind, with audiences unable to stop praising the series. The 1994 television production, often underappreciated, has viewers utterly captivated by its quality, describing it as a 'flawless' adaptation that brings the original novel to life.
A Literary Triumph
George Eliot's novel, published serially from 1871 to 1872, transformed the literary landscape. Its enduring influence recently earned it the title of 'greatest novel of all time' in The Guardian's 100 Best Novels list. The BBC's adaptation, a collaboration with American broadcaster WGBH-TV, consists of six episodes, each running approximately an hour.
Critical Acclaim
Directed by Anthony Page and written by Andrew Davies, the creative force behind 'Pride and Prejudice' (1995) and 'Bleak House' (2005), the series won three BAFTAs, including Best Actress for Juliet Aubrey. The cast also features Rufus Sewell, Douglas Hodge, Trevyn McDowell, and Patrick Malahide, with narration by Judi Dench.
The official synopsis reads: 'Middlemarch is a story of provincial life on the brink of momentous change and a deeply moving saga about a group of people striving to give meaning and value to their lives during the Industrial Revolution.'
Viewer Reactions
Viewers have been effusive in their praise. One IMDB user wrote: 'Brilliant adaptation of George Eliot's masterpiece. What a brilliant adaptation this is, even better than 2002's Daniel Deronda and that was fabulous as well. To conclude, in every way this adaptation of Middlemarch is brilliant and does justice to a literary masterpiece.'
Another review states: 'Perfection. Just loved this series. As a lover of British period drama this is one of my favourites. Some fabulous acting to boot. Quite a fan of George Eliot's novels. Can't fault this production.'
One impressed viewer commented: 'George Eliot's novel come alive in this movie! This film is definitely worth seeing. Every part of it is done professionally and well. If you love Victorian novels, and especially if you love George Eliot's work, don't miss it. The series was so popular that thousands of people in England bought the novel. It was the top best seller in England for weeks!'
Another fan added: 'An excellent and faithful adaptation. I finished reading Middlemarch (which I loved) and immediately began watching this miniseries, which had been recommended to me. I'm very particular about screen adaptations of my beloved books and I'm pleased to say that this one delivered on every level. Not an easy thing to do for a story that's over 800 pages, but the characters are well-rendered and the adaptation hits all the right notes.'
Middlemarch is available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer.
