Given Mary Ann Evans changed her name to George Eliot, so as to break into a patriarchal world -- perhaps it is blasphemous -- although I wouldn't put my money on it -- -- given the vagaries of gender politics of late -- But I always thought that was a great thing she did, so read it [a few times]. It's a book of its time -- how they lived - not spectacular but easy and beautifully written! It's good practice for patient reading. It may never be read again -- lol