I've only read one book of Eliot critisism, but the introduction in nearly every edition of Middlemarch comments on the fact that the book started out as two books --- the Dorothea thread and the Lydgate thread. I have always wondered whether, because the characters and their paths were so firmly fixed in Eliot's head, she could not conceive of Dorothea and Lydgate as a couple. Everybody else I've ever talked to can see it. She blends the two tales so nicely and even makes the disparity mean something, by pointing out in near the beginning that Dorothea and Rosamond could not meet socially. Not a done thing, though Vincy was mayor of the town. Astounding!

The novel was not only two stories interwoven into one, it was also originally written in bi-monthly parts, so the interweaving of the two stories is even more laudable.

I always forget about that aspect, Ian. Thanks for reminded me about serialization. The other thing I think is interesting about Eliot, which is brought out in the duel plot, is that, say compared to JA, she deals with the business and working classes. Lydgate's quandry about who to vote for, for the new fever hospital's chaplain? It was a political problem like you would find in any office, and it demonstrates how much more Eliot was "in the world" than JA or the Brontes.

I was disappointed that Lydgate "caved in" and voted for Bulstrode's choice. In the novel, we do not meet Lydgate for quite a few pages. In the video, we see him at the beginning. I found it interesting that Davies chose to do it that way.

I guess "New guy coming to town" is a good way to start a movie. There's some action and movement. I was disappointed in him for blowing off Farebrother, too. Another very likeable character.

Mr Farebrother and Mr Caleb Garth are two fine characters, whom Dr Lydgate would have been much better to have had dealings with than any of the other odious people such as Bulstrode. Remember Andrew Davies also started the Pride & Prejudice2 series that way too, with Bingley and Darcy riding across the paddocks to view Netherfield ?

Does Bulstrode belong to any particular denomination of Episcopalian (?) or something else (I'm not very familiar with religion of that time) that makes him more 'supposedely' pious? Just curious-I've read "Barchester towers" by Trollope and it had a almost religious war going on between something that was called high and low church- and I had no idea what it was. Can it be that Farebrother is one, and Bulstrode the other, and that is why Bulstrode does not like him, or is he just being his usual disagree ble self? Yes, I also thought Lydgate should have sided w/ Farebrother, but where would his hospital be then? I thought that was the first indication of his giving in to Middlemarch, or am I way off?

] Yes, I also thought Lydgate should have sided w/ Farebrother, but where would his hospital be then? I thought that was the first indication of his giving in to Middlemarch, or am I way off? __ Right. Could be, Marsha. A step toward taking the middle path as Mr Brooke is wont to do. I don't know about the religious question. Eliot in her other books said when characters were specifically Methodist (the evalgelists of the time), so maybe you are right in supposing that Bulstrode is some variant breed of Anglican.