Guilty no more: the joy of taking on Eliot’s Middlemarch

Patricia Stefanowicz, London Association of Phi Beta Kappa | 12 May 2021

The London Chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society started a new initiative in 2021. Known colloquially as ‘The Guilty Readers Book Club’, we decided to take inspiration from Mark Twain’s off-quoted comment, ‘A classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read.’ I often amend the quote (and therefore misquote, purposefully), ‘A classic is something that everybody wants to have read, claims to have read, but has not read.’ 

Intrepidly, Phi Beta Kappa started our ‘classic’ journey with George Eliot’s masterpiece, Middlemarch, first published in 1871-2, London. Eliot, at the time, had established a reputation as England’s leading novelist and Middlemarch’s publication was eagerly anticipated, and expectation increased by initial publication in parts at intervals. Upon completion, an insightful review appeared in the Academy (January 1873), commenting on the author’s sustained focus on the ‘inner lives’ of her characters with external events supporting extended investigation of ‘mental experience.’ Henry James described Middlemarch as a ‘treasure house of details’, but ‘an insubstantial whole’. Elsewhere there was critical uneasiness at the novel’s pessimism, especially the absence of Christian consolation, given that at least two of the most prominent characters were clergymen. The Spectator review admired the portrayal of provincial life, but noted the ‘melancholy scepticism’ and ‘moral desolation’. In critical perspective nowadays it is considered that a perceived basis for despair in Eliot’s work, and particularly Middlemarch, led to a decline in Eliot’s reputation from the end of the 19th century until the middle of the 20th century. Renewed critical interest from 1948/1950 extending to the present day, however, restored Eliot’s reputation and has made her novels essential reading for anyone interested in Victorian literature, or, indeed, English literature generally.

Our group of about fifteen, some from overseas, held two discussion sessions in March and April, loosely based on Prelude and Books 1-4, and Books 5-8 and Finale. Summaries of each set of Books and summaries of possible discussion points were provided in advance. Critical views were included at some length (by courtesy of The Victorian Web and others), referenced, of course. But discussion, as in most book clubs, was wide-ranging, covering characterisation, themes (role of women, money, income and social class, industrial development influences in the provinces around 1829-32, pre-Victoria’s accession to the throne, and other aspects), critical theory about Middlemarch. We were particularly fortunate to have an expert on English law contributing to the discussion. 

We have received positive feedback…’enlightening’, ‘not too academic, but educational’, ‘diverting’, ‘definitely worthwhile’, ‘off my bucket-list, but would reread it now’, and so on.

So, ‘The Guilty Readers Book Club’ are planning another session for the autumn. Watch this space! And, please join us, if you wish; all are welcome.

The ‘Guilty Readers Book Club’ is open to all PBK members, as well as anyone else who may be interested. Email phibetakappalondon@gmail.com to be added to the list.