Middlemarch, A Study of Provincial Life is a novel by the English author George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans). The novel is set in the fictitious Midlands town of Middlemarch during 1829-32, [1] and follows several distinct, though intersecting stories with a large cast of characters. Major issues include the status of women, the nature of marriage, idealism, self-interest, religion, hypocrisy, political reform, and education. Despite its comic elements, Middlemarch is a work of realism encompassing many historical events: the 1832 Reform Act, the beginnings of the railways, and the death of King George IV and succession of his brother, the Duke of Clarence (King William IV). It also incorporates contemporary medical science and examines the reactionary mindset found in a settled community facing unwelcome change. (Wikipedia)