I really liked this. I'm continually impressed with George Eliot; it's time for another reading of Middlemarch (it's almost been 15 years). At the moment, this one is my favorite of hers. It's one of her earlier works.
Characters here are so well presented - all believable, all so well sketched and developed (with enough surprises along the way). There were enough characters to fill out the story, but few enough so that this kind of detailed exposition could happen. [Only exception: Stephen Guest felt odd but in the end I felt he fit the flow. (Interesting that at book's end there is a short discussion of what apparently was a great deal of criticism taken by Eliot for the Guest character.)]
--Maggie Tulliver
--Tom Tulliver (Maggie's brother) (these are the two main characters)
--Their parents; Mr. Tulliver likes to go to law; he wants Tom to become educated; Tom's struggles with the clergyman-teacher.
--The Dodson sisters (Mrs. Tulliver was one of these) - esp. Glegg - the voicing on these was utterly uncanny. And often hilarious. Also their husbands. Easy to understand that this was a world Eliot had lived in.
--Lucy Deane - cousin (daughter of one of the Dodson sisters).
--Stephen Guest.
--Lawyer Wakem; his son Philip.
--Bob Jakin - Tom's childhood friend, more of an acquaintance.
The story revolves around Maggie and Tom, but primarily around Maggie. Realistic, flawed, wonderful character.
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