‘Perfect’ BBC period drama is ‘faultless adaptation’ of greatest novel of all time

The BBC period drama been hailed as a ‘faultless masterpiece’ by viewers and fans can’t stop singing its praises — streaming for free on BBC iPlayer.

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Viewers can’t stop raving about the ‘brilliant’ series(Image: BBC)

A BBC period drama adaptation is being celebrated as the finest of its kind and audiences can’t stop praising the series.

The frequently underappreciated period drama has viewers utterly captivated by its quality, with audiences describing the ‘flawless’ adaptation as bringing the original novel ‘to life’.

Middlemarch (1994) was hugely popular back when it began airing on BBC One and BBC Two. The period drama was adapted from George Eliot’s (pen name of Mary Ann Evans) novel of the same title.

Eliot’s serialised work was published in instalments from 1871 to 1872 and it’s fair to say it transformed the literary landscape. So magnificent and enduring is its influence, that Middlemarch was recently crowned the ‘greatest novel of all time’ in The Guardian’s 100 Best Novels list.

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The critically acclaimed show won three BAFTAs(Image: BBC)

The series was a collaborative production between the BBC and the American broadcaster WGBH-TV and consisted of 6 episodes with each instalment running approximately an hour.

The BBC’s 1994 television series was directed by celebrated film and stage director Anthony Page, with a screenplay written by Andrew Davies – the creative force behind major productions like Pride and Prejudice (1995) and Bleak House (2005), reports the Liverpool Echo.

A black-and-white TV mini series on Middlemarch was also commissioned by the BBC and transmitted in 1968, though it didn’t generate headlines quite as significantly as the 1994 adaptation.

Middlemarch features Juliet Aubrey and Rufus Sewell in the central roles, alongside Douglas Hodge, Trevyn McDowell, and Patrick Malahide, with narration provided by Judi Dench. The series proved a resounding critical success, claiming three BAFTAs, including a Best Actress triumph for Juliet Aubrey.

The period drama’s official synopsis reads: “Middlemarch is a story of provincial life on the brink of momentous change and a deeply moving saga about a group of people striving to give meaning and value to their lives during the Industrial Revolution.”

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The period drama has been adapted from George Eliot’s literary masterpiece(Image: Universal History Archive/Getty Images)

Viewers simply cannot stop singing the costume drama’s praises, with one IMDB user writing: “Brilliant adaptation of George Eliot’s masterpiece. What a brilliant adaptation this is, even better than 2002’s Daniel Deronda and that was fabulous as well. To conclude, in every way this adaptation of Middlemarch is brilliant and does justice to a literary masterpiece.”

While another IMDB review says: “Perfection. Just loved this series. As a lover of British period drama this is one of my favourites. Some fabulous acting to boot. Quite a fan of George Eliot’s novels. Can’t fault this production.”

One impressed viewer said about the series: “George Eliot’s novel come alive in this movie! This film is definitely worth seeing. Every part of it is done professionally and well. If you love Victorian novels, and especially if you love George Eliot’s work, don’t miss it. P.S. The series was so popular that thousands of people in England bought the novel. It was the top best seller in England for weeks!”

While another fan of the show said: “An excellent and faithful adaptation. I finished reading Middlemarch (which I loved) and immediately began watching this miniseries, which had been recommended to me.

“I’m very particular about screen adaptations of my beloved books and I’m pleased to say that this one delivered on every level. Not an easy thing to do for a story that’s over 800 pages, but the characters are well-rendered and the adaptation hits all the right notes.”

Middlemarch is available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer.