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The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Occult fiction, English; Psychological fiction, English; Didactic fiction, English; Fiction / Classics; Fiction / Psychological; ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Must Read Melancholy Romance
Wow...

This book had me saying wow early on, and perhaps this was the first sign that I was in the presence of significant literature. Basically, George Eliot (literature buffs know this is Mary Anne Evans) strikes you in 'The Lifted Veil' immediately with a somber punch worthy of Edgar Allen Poe, followed by drama, romance, and a hint of the mystic. The tone remains constant in it's dark mood, but this did little to dampen my enthusiasm as a reader. Already this book has climbed into my top 20 short stories involving romance.

I really would hate to spoil your reading of this great tale with spoilers, but suffice it to say the allusion of the title is referring to the marital veil primarily, and not the veil of death, although that could be also intended on a lesser note. So, basically, I would consider this a great read for anyone ever contemplating marriage, as a cautionary tale. It really does have some good insight into that, as well as the 'pecking order' of family relationships.

Overall, a period romance with a very personal, very somber, slightly mystic and very male feel to it, which distinguishes it greatly.

Highly recommended.
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First published 1860. ... Read more

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Brother Jacob
Brother Jacob by George Eliot. Published by MobileReference (mobi).

This ebook has a very good table of contents. ToC is linked to every chapter. It works great on my Kindle! ... Read more

Product Description
Adam Bede was George Eliot's first full-length novel. Set in the English Midlands of farmers and village craftsmen at the turn of the eighteenth century, the book tells a story of seduction, and is also a pioneering record of a long lost rural world.
Middlemarch is a complex tale of idealism, disillusion, profligacy, loyalty and frustrated love. This penetrating analysis of the life of an English provincial town is told through the lives of Dorothea Brooke and Dr Tertius Lydgate, illuminating the condition of English life in the mid-nineteenth century.The Mill on the Floss is a masterpiece of ambiguity in which moral choice is subjected to the hypocrisy of the Victorian age. Maggie Tulliver's love for her brother Tom turns to conflict. His bourgeois standards contrasting with her own lively intelligence, and the result, is tragedy.Silas Marner tells the tender and moving story of the unjustly exiled linen weaver, Silas Marner of Raveloe in the agricultural heartland of England. It tells of how he is restored to life and his sadness ended by the unlikely means of the orphan child Eppie. ... Read more

Product Description
"The Mill on the Floss" is George Eliot's 1860 novel, which tells the story of Tom and Maggie Tulliver, a brother and sister growing up on the river Floss near the village of St. Oggs. Set in the early 1800s over a period of ten to fifteen years, "The Mill on the Floss" follows the two main characters from childhood. Central to the theme of the novel is the struggle of man between spiritual determinism and free will. A classic work of 19th century literature, "The Mill on the Floss" remains a popular and enduring example of George Eliot's impact on English literature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (72)

Female sacrifice...

As Maggie Tulliver searches to fulfill herself while still being morally responsible, she increasingly comes into conflict with her beloved brother Tom and her community.Caught within the rigid societal structure of 19th-century rural England, Maggie becomes its victim as she struggles not to lose everything and everyone she loves while trying to remain true to herself.

Fizzled Out
This book starts strong; with quirky, believable characters and a poignant setting that was obviously a well-loved memory of the author's childhood. I frequently laughed out loud at some antic of Maggie's or a description of her woodenheaded, morally upright Aunt Glegg.

Once the characters grew up, however, it degenerated into a tragic romance with Maggie as `Mary Sue', and the ending! - don't get me started.

A Proustian Predecessor
This was a very engrossing reread for me.Maggie Tulliver is indeed a very sympathetic and engrossing character and Eliot's writing is superb. I (like Marie Ann Evans herself) much prefer this powerful, diluvian tempest of a novel to what is considered her masterpiece, Middlemarch, for several reasons: It has more of the author's passion in it.It has more of the fullness of human nature, in general, in it and, most of all, I finally understand - My first reading of this book was as an adolescent. - Eliot's influence on Proust.

In describing Maggie's childhood to the reader, Eliot asks: "Is there any one who can recover the experience of his childhood, not merely with a memory of what he did and what happened to him, of what he liked and disliked when he was in frock and trousers, but with an intimate penetration, a revived consciousness - when it was so long from one Midsummer to another?" A madeleine anyone?

Any high-strung, sensitive reader is bound to relate intensely to poor, fierce, impressionable Maggie's travails.She is so sensitive that Eliot describes her as having "little more power of concealing the impressions made upon her than if she had been constructed of musical strings."And she has Maggie herself say: "Certain strains of music affect me so strangely - I can never hear them without changing my whole attitude for a time, and if the effect would last, I might be capable of heroisms." One is reminded of the "little passage" from Vinteuil's sonata and its profound effect upon Swann and, later, upon Proust's narrator himself.

But, back to the novel itself: It really has nothing of the drawing rooms of Jane Austen in it - save to set these settings in relief for the reader's ridicule.It more resembles the novels of the Brontes, particularly Emily's Wuthering Heights and parts of Charlotte's Villette.It also contains what I consider one of the finest statements advocating the reading of great literature found anywhere.Thus, this passage (End of Book VII, Chapter II) is worth quoting at length:

"All people of broad, strong sense have an instinctive repugnance to men of maxims; because such people early discern that the mysterious complexity of our life is not to be embraced by maxims, and that to lace ourselves up in formulas of that sort is to repress all the divine promptings and inspirations that spring from growing insight and sympathy."

The only reasons I'm giving it four rather than five stars are due to a certain unevenness in narrative voice that jars at times and to a Dickensian flatness of some of the characters.Nevertheless, recommended to all readers of "broad, strong sense," who might just want to pick up Proust after reading this truly harrowing novel by a worthy predecessor.

Classic Literature: Beautiful Writing, Memorable Characters and Philosophical Lessons
I liked "Middlemarch" but did not love it, so when I decided to read this novel, I was a bit wary of it. I loved these characters and I think that this novel is a profound statement on morality, siblings and class envy. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves classic literature. It's now one of my new favorites from the 19th century!

Great book, cheap ending
The story is great, and the characters absorbing. I was hooked. I liked it tons better than "Adam Bede" with its snotty, stuck-up stilted characters. The characters in this one have personality and funny quirks.

The ending, however, is awful. I think she got sick of writing this, because she cuts it off short in a bizarre and contrived manner. Very unsatisfying. I had hoped for a more subtle ending. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Bridget's Review
George Eliot in Love is one of those books that you could read over and over again and not get bored.I love that George didn't live by society's standards.She was true to herself and that in itself is a great achievement.She's a strong, powerful woman who you can't help but love.Read this book, the writing is phenomenal! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Notice! Much cheaper version available
This is not a criticism of the book. Stupid me, I bought it used, only to find out that there is a much cheaper earlier version available if you want to save some money, which I try to do: George Eliot (Virago Pantheon Pioneers). Just be sure to check OTHER FORMATS. I wish I had.

The consummate biography and literary description of George Eliot
Jenny Uglow's biography of George Eliot succeeds where most others have failed, namely in presenting the inner turmoil of an artist who was bound by her gender as much as by her hightened intellectual acuity. Having lost her faith and her family on pain of pursuing the life of a novelist. She was fully immersed in the woman question, as may be readily acknowledged through cursory reading of her novels, but it is in her letter and in her lifestyle that we are made privy to her struggle to lead a life of independence and freedom of expression that she was never willing to comprosmise. She was regarded as a brilliant writer by her contemporaries, who also did not see her novels as awefully unsettling, but it is on strength of her choosing to defy polite society and live her adopted unorthodox convictions while living with the philosopher George Lewes for a quarter of a century that marked her being designated as unfathomably confrontational. Jenny Uglow is exceptional in showing the writer at work and her concerns while never relinquishing the flow of the narrative and the focus of her subject. The biographer does not romanticize George Eliot, born Mary Ann Evans, rather often shows how what seemed rationally argued statements were in fact the product of lengthy consideration that emotionally and intellectually exhausted the author of Middlemarch. In this we see the workings of a mind beset by a sense of pride, imposing rational qualifications and an overall adherence to a responsibility she adhered to with a martyr's sincerity, even whenswamped within her emotional moorings.
Jenny Uglow is not without humor when describing George Eliot, and often gives anecdotes that allow us to see the humanity of the woman who inspite of her rough applications and rational charge did have a gracious sensibility which dissuaded her courage to overcome the strictures of her profession.
From a letter on the woman subject reprinted by Uglow she will point out that "there is no subject on which I am more inclined to hold my peace and learn, than on the woman question. It seems to me to overhang abysses, of which even prostitution is not the worst. Conclusions seem easy as long as we keep large blinkers on and look in the direction of our own private path...I have been made rather miserable lately by revelations about woman, and have resolved to remain silent in my sense of helplessness."
Of course in fiction she was able to be political in ways that she was reluctant to do on the social stage. She used the power of her fiction to direct ideas in ways that supervened the sentiments of the greater public and create heroines that were rational, tough minded and understanding of tradition. She, in short sought to give woman the choice she thought they were being denied, yet not so as to chose for them.
Jenny Uglow is adept at showing parallels in her life and fiction, juxtaposing letters and anecdotes, and the literary criticism she suffered at the time. The biographer gives a second-to-none description of Eliot's partnership with Lewes, and the way the relationship conditioned her view on the passions and marriage, on gender and philosophy, on politics and economics.
Uglow explores George Eliot's ambivalent attitude to choice and change, and illustrates how the novelist confronts the inner tensions of central images of Victorian life, such as class allegiance and the woman's role, to create a vision of a more generous way of life inspired by the imagination and the power of feeling.
As Uglow will argue, in George Eliot's vision "society must replace a repressive, rule-bound ethic with one that is flexible, imaginative and able to cater for humanity in its infinite variety." This vision is still being pursued by many disciples of George Eliot, irrespective of gender or race, and we call such disciples novelists.
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This is Volume Volume 1 of 3-Volume Set.To purchase the complete set, you will need to order the other volumes separately: to find them, search for the following ISBNs: 9781425047658, 9781425047665

The most extraordinary masterpiece written from personal experience. "Middlemarch" is a deep psychological observation of human nature which revolves around the issues of love, jealousy, and obligation. Eliot's feminist views are apparent through the novel in which she stresses the fact that women should control their own lives. A highly recommended classic!

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Daniel Deronda, the last of Eliot's novels, is the most complete expression of her idealism.Its main concerns are those of personal morality, of dedication to tradition and roots, and of spiritual identification and sympathy--all set in an era of considerable national and international awareness.The text is that of the Clarendon Edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

I think he is not like young men in general
"Daniel Deronda" was the last novel George Eliot wrote, and it's an appropriate finale to her career -- a lushly-written, heartfelt story about a young man searching for his past (and clues to his future), as well as a vibrant strong-willed young lady who discovers that life doesn't always go your way. Even better, Eliot deftly avoided the cliches and caricatures of the Jewish people, portraying them with love and respect.

Daniel Deronda is the ward (and rumored illegitimate son) of a nobleman, who is unsure of his past (particularly of his mother) catching a glimpse of pretty, reckless, arrogant Gwendolyn Harleth at a casino. Gwendolyn (who boasts that she gets everything she wants) is interested in Daniel, but when her family loses all their money, she marries a rich suitor, a relative of Daniel's -- knowing that his mistress and illegitimate children will be disinherited. But she soon finds that her new husband is a sadistic brute, and sees Daniel as her only help.

Meanwhile, Daniel rescues the despairing Mirah Lapidoth from a suicide attempt in the river, and he helps the young Jewish singer find a home and friends to care for her. As he helps her find her family, he becomes passionately attached to the Jewish population and their plight, embodied by a dying young visionary and a kindly shopkeeping family. Then he receives an important message -- one that will illuminate his roots, and give him a course for the future.

When Eliot published her final novel, it caused a massive stir -- not many novelists tackled the plight of the Jewish population, or how it compared to the gilded upper classes. In a way, "Daniel Deronda" is both a love triangle and an allegory -- Daniel must choose between the pretty, shallow English life (Gwendolyn) or a rich Jewish heritage (Mirah) with a background of tragedy.

The biggest problem with Eliot's writing is that it becomes a little too lush and dense at times, and the narrative moves a bit slowly (in the Victorian manner). But that flaw doesn't rob her writing of its power or beauty -- she describes every feeling, gesture and emotion in detail, as well as the sumptuous balls, exquisitely gilded mansions, and every shadowy tree or rich expanse of land ("a grassy court enclosed on three sides by a gothic cloister").

Yet the greatest power is in the stories that twine like ivy over the main plot -- a young Jewish girl's search for her family, a sadistic man's search for a wild lovely girl he can break, and especially of the composer Herr Klesmer and his sweet, atypical love story with Miss Arrowpoint. And the last quarter of the book is wrapped in Daniel's search for his own family, culminating in a quietly tense encounter with someone from his long-ago past.

Daniel almost seems like a character too good to be true -- unselfish, kind, universally kindly and very intelligent, though possessed of a vaguely searching quality. Gwendolyn is his complete opposite: she has been raised to be selfish, disdainful and immature, but as the book goes on she learns that selfishness doesn't pay -- marriage to the despicable Grandcourt changes her from a selfish little girl into a scarred but stronger woman.

The third leg of the triangle is Mirah, who is not given the loving attention that Gwendolyn is, but who is still a compelling figure -- her father tried to sell her, and now she wanders through England searching for her family. And the book is littered with many other striking characters: the sadistic Grandcourt and his creepy servant Lush, the crotchety but kindly Klesmer, the spirited artist Hans, the kindly Sir Hugo and the doomed, strong-willed Mordecai.

"Daniel Deronda" is a beautiful portrait of a young man's search for his past, and a young woman's struggle with the fruits of her own selfishness. What's more, George Eliot's last novel is a loving, powerful portrait of the Jewish people, in a time when they were caricatured at best.

"Visions are the creators and feeders of the world. I see. I measure the world as it is, which the vision will create anew."
In what may be her most exciting and original novel, George Eliot weaves two completely different plots, one of which is a uniquely sympathetic and fully developed story with Jewish protagonists. Presenting no Jewish stereotypes, as we see in Dickens (in Oliver Twist and other novels) and even Trollope (with The Way We Live Now (Barnes & Noble Classics)), she depicts characters who have, in one case, tried to avoid their heritage and in another have been drawn irrevocably to a religion and culture with which they have had no previous contact.

Daniel Deronda, a young man who has been brought up as an English gentleman by Sir Hugo Mallinger, has never known his real parents, secretly fearing that he is illegitimate. As time passes, he longs to understand the circumstances of his birth, especially after Sir Hugo marries and produces heirs of his own. Beautiful Gwendolen Harleth, selfish and manipulative, is romantically attracted to Daniel, but a sudden change in her family's financial status leads her into a precipitous but financially advantageous marriage to the arrogant Henleigh Grandcourt. Meanwhile, Daniel saves a young woman from drowning herself, a singer named Mirah Lapidoth who is in despair. Mirah, a Jew, has been stolen from her family by her father, whom she suspects planned to sell her into white slavery, and she desperately misses her mother and brother, whom she can no longer find. As she progresses with her singing career, she never forgets her heritage, of which she is inordinately proud.

As Eliot develops the various social settings of this fascinating novel, written in 1876, a full picture of British society evolves. To protect Mirah from her father and her own despair, Daniel places her in the home of friends and resolves to try to find her family. When Daniel discovers her brother Mordecai, a Jewish mystic and seer, Mordecai is convinced, against all odds, that Daniel is Jewish--and is the person who will carry his visions for a Jewish nation to fruition. As the novel develops further, Eliot explores Jewish mysticism, religious traditions, and cultural heritage, even as she also uses the shallow, aristocratic life of Gwendolen Harleth Grandcourt as a contrast to that of Mirah.

The novel is unique in its favorable and lengthy depiction of Judaism and in its illustration of Judaism's cultural superiority to superficial, aristocratic British life. Mirah and her family take center stage in terms of sympathy, despite the fact the Gwendolen, who in other novels might have been the heroine, suffers terribly in her miserable marriage to Grandcourt. Daring to do something completely different with this complex novel, which was her last, Eliot's vision and seriousness of purpose here created enormous controversy in its time and presaged a new direction for the novel. n Mary Whipple

Middlemarch (Signet Classics) (Signet Classics)
The Mill on the Floss (Penguin Popular Classics)
Adam Bede (Penguin Classics)
George Eliot: The Last Victorian

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Product Description
This panoramic work--considered the finest novel in English by many critics--offers a complex look at English provincial life at a crucial historical moment, and, at the same time, dramatizes and explores some of the most potent myths of Victorian literature.The text of this edition comes from the Clarendon Middlemarch, the first critical edition of the novel. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Disappointing
I love classics but I had never read George Eliot. I saw many people praising this as one of the greatest books of all time so I bought it and was excited to get into it. In all honesty, I had a hard time keeping awake.The story line was good.My problem was with the writing.I LOVE descriptive writing.Thomas Hardy is one of my favorite authors.He takes me to the village and I become part of it.I never cared about Middlemarch.I was disappointed with the character development.I only cared for a few of the main characters.There was too much philosophy, excessively LONG sentences and filler that distracted my interest.I found it very odd that in this lengthy book three weddings took place but she never wrote about even one of them.One chapter the wedding was close and the next chapter it was a month later. But we got details of medical theory, politics and went through the bidding process of many items at an auction when only one item had a connection to the story, etc.I also found it interesting that each "book" of the book was 100(+/-1) pages long.Did she get paid by the word?I think an editor could shorten some of the sentences, take a couple hundred pages of filler out and make it much better.

Great Edition
Middlemarch is an enduring classic and I will always love it.I know the book is long, but it's one of those books that you will be proud to display on your bookshelf.This particular edition was really helpful; the editor's notes were illuminating and the book provided translations and context where needed.I have read the book before without editor's notes and having those explanatory notes really name a big difference.Also, this particular edition was really affordable.

Horrible formatting for the Kindle edition
The book itself is fine.However, the font style and formatting used by the Oxford press is really unattractive, and there is no way to change the font style.You can change the size of the font but not the actual font style itself.It is a very old style and looks like something from the 1800s.I'm sure this was fine for printed books in the 1800s, but it looks horrible on a Kindle 2 screen in the 2000s.Come on Oxford, when you convert your books to an e-reader format, you need to put some thought into how the work will be displayed on e-readers.When given a choice, I always use the Oxford edition of classics, but for this book I switched over to the Penguin edition just because of the way the work is displayed on the Kindle 2 screen.Horrible job Oxford!

Review of Middlemarch
Finally.Finally after four weeks of reading I finish this novel.

So, in summary, this is what I gathered from the book.This is a story about three couples - Fred and Mary, Dorothea and Ladislaw and Rosamund and Lyndgate.These six people live in a town called Middlemarch - and Eliot does not build a vague fictional town here, she details every last little thing down to pages upon pages of motives behind elections, decisions made and fainting spells.Every bit of gossip is laid out and every substantial movement of a main character dissected and looked at from all angles.

In short, this was the longest book I've ever read.And I'm sad to say I just did not like it all that much.

I often remarked to my family as I was trudging my way through this novel that, at times, it felt as if I was sitting and watching a snail decide which direction to move in.Now, don't get me wrong - the characters were vibrant.They could have sprung off the page, full of life if Eliot (to borrow a Tolkien term here) had not the patience of an Ent. So. Much. Detail. Ugh. I cannot get over how long this book took to read.

I loved the Epilogue though (and for more reasons than it just signifying the end!) and I'm proud of myself for sticking it through and for grasping the story and understanding the significance of why she wrote it the way she did.It had to be done that way - the actual "action" in the book would have been disappointing on its own without all of the build-up.But instead of feeling a triumphant release at the ending I felt more a calm sigh of relief and had a "thank God" moment (both for it being the end and for getting what I wanted at the end of the book).

I would not have read this book if I hadn't been involved in the 1001 Books to Read Before you Die challenge.And honestly, I'm dreading the next George Eliot I pick up, but at least I've armed myself with some knowledge and know how to approach it now.Bits at a time with plenty of action-filled books in between.

Don't be intimidated--it is truly transcendent
I must admit that I was intimidated for years by this novel.It sat on my shelf for ages, neglected in favor of "easier" books to read.Once I started it though, I couldn't put it down.

I generally read really quickly, but you really should take your time with every word of this novel.Otherwise you miss sentences like the following:

"If we had a keen vision and feeling of all ordinary human life, it would be like hearing the grass grow and the squirrel's heart beat, and we should die of that roar which lies on the other side of silence."!!!!!!!!!!!AMAZING.

Not to mention a lushly romantic plot that really tears you apart.I couldn't believe how breathless I was during the interactions of two of the main characters.Deeper messages aside, this was an emotional experience.I read Middlemarch like I read novels that will not be in print more than 10 years.So don't be intimidated by the density of the prose like I was! ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (123)

Silas Marner, by George Eliot
Silas Marner is a classic.Once you come to terms with the old English the characters take on an intertwining story of symbolism and intrigue.A great plot dealing with human nature at it's best and worst.A good story of any age.

Great Listening
I read the book as a teen and enjoyed listening to it again. It is superbly done with great acting and music. I would recommend it to anyone who has to take a long trip either by land, air, or sea, as it helps to quickly pass the time.

Sweet Story
Silas Marner is a broken man.In training to be a religious man, he is falsely accused of being a thief and is betrayed by his best friend.Marner leaves town in disgrace and moves to a new place, where he mostly keeps to himself, weaving all day to make money.His gold, stored in a secret hole during the day and taken out to be stacked and counted in the evening, is his only companion.

When Marner's money is stolen, his world is rocked again, and he lives in devastation and regret.But when an orphan appears in his cabin and nobody steps forward to claim her, Marner finally finds something of meaning in his life.

This is a really sweet story of how a child's love can melt even the toughest of hearts.The path to Marner's destruction is long and heartbreaking, and my only complaint about the book is that there is so little about the life Silas and Eppie live together.I would have liked to have seen more of her growing up and the two of them forming a bond.

Not a classic
This book is billed as a reproduction of a classic edition of Silas Marner. It appears as is someone just scanned the pages of a classic edition and bound them together. There is no warmth to this edition. The pages are overwhelimingly bright white with a reproduced page in the middle. Doesn't even have a book title on the edge binding. This is not the edition for anyone who loves the warmth and comfort of reading classic books.

Almost as good as the book
As usual, Focus on the Family does a wonderful job at dramatizing this classic story.They use first-class voice actors and sound effects.However, this version does not quite reach the level of the original book. It is not that there is any lack of quality, but just that something is lost in translation when a book is dramatized.No matter how good a dramatization is, it loses some of the depth of the book.

However, this dramatization is high-quality entertainment and I highly recommend it.But if you like this dramatized version of Silas Marner, then you will like the original novel even more. ... Read more

Product Description
In this stimulating history of the ideas behind George Eliot's novels, Bernard Semmel explores Eliot's imaginative use of the theme of inheritance, as a metaphor for her political thinking.

Through detailed analyses of Eliot's novels and other writings, and a study of the intellectual currents of the time, Semmel demonstrates how and why Eliot's views on inheritance provided central ideas for her fiction. Semmel uncovers Eliot's intent when she wrote of the obligations of inheritance both in the common meaning of the term, as in the transfer of goods and property from parents to children, and in the more metaphoric sense of the inheritance of both the benefits and burdens of the historical past, particularly those of the nation's culture and traditions. He believes Eliot's novels dwelt so insistently on the idea of inheritance in good part because she viewed herself as intellectually "disinherited," writing as she did at a time when much of England was being transformed from a traditional community to an alienating modern society, and when, moreover, she suffered from a painful estrangement from her family.

In this thought-provoking study, Semmel dissects the politics of Eliot's novels, including Middlemarch, Daniel Deronda, Romola Felix Holt, and Adam Bede, and convincingly displays the relationship between Eliot's variations on the theme of inheritance and her acceptance of Britain's traditional policies of compromise and reform.All those interested in Victorian literature, history, and political thought will appreciate Semmel's George Eliot and the Politics of National Inheritance. ... Read more

Product Description
Falsely accused, cut off from his past, Silas the weaver is reduced to a spider-like existence, endlessly weaving his web and hoarding his gold. Meanwhile, Godfrey Cass, son of the squire, contracts a secret marriage. While the village celebrates Christmas and New Year, two apparently inexplicable events occur. Silas loses his gold and finds a child on his hearth. The imaginative control George Eliot displays as her narrative gradually reveals causes and connections has rarely been surpassed. This new edition, which is based on the carefully corrected text George Eliot prepared a few months after the first edition, is accompanied by an introduction which illuminates the intellectual context of what has often been presented as a nostalgic, sentimental tale. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An uplifting story
After Silas Marner's hoard of money was stolen, I was afraid this would be another dreary, Bronte-like novel, full of doom, gloom and cruelty. I almost decided not to finish it. However, I looked up a plot summary online and found that it was not so dark. I'm glad I went ahead and finished the book. The author paints for us all kinds of interesting scenes of life in a small English village in the 19th century. We read of virtue and vice, pompousness and humility, love and devotion, and even of good intentions backfiring.

All in all, this is a pleasant read. The good are rewarded and the bad get their just deserts.

The Blessings Of Misfortune
"Life is what happens while we're busy making other plans..." John Lennon's lyric are words to live by in this hardy Victorian chestnut about a simple miser who finds love at his doorstep one snowy evening.

Published in 1861, George Eliot's novel has a reputation for dreary earnestness that kept me away from it for quite some time, until I decided to make an effort at reading all the books I successfully avoided in high school. "Silas Marner" turned out one of the easier assignments, not only because of its shortness and simplicity, but for Eliot's engaging manner of writing, which feels less wedded to its time than even more famous writers of her generation like Dickens.

Marner is a weaver and a kind of social exile who sets up his home and business in the English country town of Raveloe. Not happy but content, he spends his time either working or sleeping, his sole recreation being the counting of his gold coins. All this is suddenly taken away from him, but Silas's misfortune turns out to be a blessing, pushing him out of what had been a rut-like comfort zone.

"Our consciousness rarely registers the beginning of a growth within us any more than without us," Eliot notes early on in Silas's transformation. "There have been many circulations of the sap before we detect the smallest sign of the bud."

There's a lot to like about "Marner" the novel. The title character is a real treasure of literature as Eliot describes him, not because he's particularly exciting so much as because he's so readily identifiable, especially with those of us who are old enough to know disappointment in life. Many reviewers here compare him to Scrooge; Marner is a materialist and a bitter social outcast, but unlike Scrooge he retains a certain palpable sympathy and humanity throughout. This in turn makes the character's journey more compelling.

Eliot captures a pastoral vision of English village life that feels absorbing and affecting, even if it is a bit gauzy. Her philosophic asides are marvelously quotable without ever getting in the way of the narrative. Her plot twists are well designed and hardly predictable, at least to me; I was especially impressed by how she dealt with a long-absent antagonist late in the story.

But here's an odd criticism for a Victorian novel: It wasn't long enough. That's actually a problem, as the central game-changing transformative act of "Silas Marner" takes place when the novel's already half-over, and from then on the story speeds toward a spotlessly tidy resolution. The development of Silas's relationship with the others in his village, and with the little girl that changes him, feels rushed.

To want more of a book is thin criticism of what is there. Perhaps a solution might be to read it again, for Eliot's ruminations on how people deal with the specter of misfortune, using various designs to try and ward it off, are both deep and charming. Her metaphysics are a trifle muzzy (I'm not sure if she was a Deist or an agnostic; maybe she was both at various times) but her take on the human condition comes across as well-grounded and relevant. She is a keen social critic, but not a blanket one; her take on organized religion manages to be both dubious and positive.

In short, this woman with a man's nom de plume is very hard to pigeonhole, which also goes for her nifty novel. To adults like me of a certain age, the title may suggest boring homework assignments thankfully dodged, but "Silas Marner" is a real treat worth picking up. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume of specially commissioned essays provides accessible introductions to all aspects of George Eliot's writing by some of the most distinguished new and established scholars and critics of Victorian literature. The essays are comprehensive, scholarly and lucidly written, and at the same time offer original insights into the work of one of the most important Victorian novelists, and into her complex and often scandalous career. With its supplementary material, including a chronology and a guide to further reading, this Companion is an invaluable tool for scholars and students alike. ... Read more

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The works assembled here introduce George Eliot’s incisive views on religion, art, and science, and the nature and purpose of fiction. Essays show her rejecting her earlier religious beliefs, questioning conventional ideas about female virtues and marriage, and setting out theories of idealism and realism that she developed further in her famous novels. Also included are selections from Eliot’s translations of works by Strauss and Feuerbach, excerpts from her poems, and reviews of writers such as Wollstonecraft, Goethe, and Browning. Wonderfully rich in imagery and observations, these pieces reveal the intellectual development of this most rewarding of writers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The genius of George Eliot is made palpable in these essays, reviews and poems collected by Penguin editors
George Eliot (1819-1880) is best known as the brilliant author of such jewels in the Victorian age's crown as
"Silas Marner"; "Scenes from Clerical Life"; "Adam Bede"; Middlemarch"; "Daniel Deronda"; and Romola. She was born
Mary Ann Evans to an estate manager in Warwickshire. Evans took the pen name George Eliot at an early age. She was a liberal atheist who lived in an unmarried state with George Henry Lewes. This living arrangement led her to be scorned by much of polite society causing a rift within her own family.
In this new Penguin Classic "Selected Essays, Poems and Other Writers" we see Evans in her journalistic work for such periodicals as the Westminster Review a liberal journal which she edited.
Among the articles are:
a. Several deal with historical criticism of the Bible shocking to many fundamentalist Christians in the age of Darwinism. Also included are excerpts from "The Life of Jesus" which Eliot translated by German scholar David Strauss.
b. Eliot reviews the latest novels to come across her editorial desk. Works by Charles Kingsley, Thomas Carlyle, Mary Wollstonecraft, Harriet Martineau and several others are reviewed. Eliot disdained so called "Women's Fiction" labelling much of it silly. She was a serious artist of creative genius.
c. A smattering of Eliot's poems are included including excerpts from "Armgart" and "The Spanish Gypsy."
d. Eliot reviews contemporary plays and looks back at Greek tragedy in a review of "Antigone."
This is not a book for the neophyte student of literature or life. Eliot's style is scholarly with long sentences and abstruse thoughts dealing with philosophy through the lens of her Auguste Comte' inspiried positivistic beliefs.
George Eliot is one of our greatest novelist. This book aids us in understanding this complex woman, scholar and writer of genius. ... Read more

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The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Fiction / Classics; Fiction / Fairy Tales, Folklore ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

a neglected gem
Scenes of Clerical Life by George Eliot. Published by MobileReference (mobi).

If you want realism get this ebook. It's a fabulous introduction to Eliot, as well as one of her best works.

George Eliot's first published fictional work is a neglected gem by the literary genius
George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) was born in Warwickshire in 1819. Her father was an estate manager and farmer. Little Mary Ann knew life in rural England. She would make rural Britain during the time of the industrial revolution her main fictional focus. She is the author of great classics "Middlemarch" "Adam Bede" "The Mill on the Floss" "Romola
and "Daniel Deronda/"
Prior to the publication of these classics there is the charming and touching work "Scenes of a Clerical Life." Mary Ann was living without benefit of clergy with the author/scientist/man of letters George Henry Lewes who couldn't divorce his mad wife to mary the homely but brilliant Mary Ann (she spoke seven languages and had written widely on biblical criticism, science, book reviews and essays of erudition and wit). Lewes suggested she try her hand at fiction. The result is this collection of three stories which was published monthly in the liberal "Westminster Review" owned by the Blackwood Family in 1857. It was later published in book form under the pen name of "George Eliot". Charles Dickens was the only critic who correctly observed that these stories had to have been written by a woman.
The three tales are:
1. The Sad Fortunes of the Rev. Amos Barton-The setting for this story as for the other two is the mythical Midlands town of Milby. Barton is an a very average cleryman who is not well liked by his parishoners. He is in dire poverty supporting several children and a sickly wife Millie. When Mrs. Barton dies we see how the church folks support Barton in his grief. The story is short and touching.
2. Mr. Gilfil's Love Story. This second clergyman in the trilogy of tales is a kindhearted old minister of the gospel.Eliot takes us back to 1788 to the story of his lost love for the beautiful Caterina. Caterina was born in Italy to an opera singer. When he died she was taken to England to be raised by a rich family. Her chief purpose is to sing for the family. She falls in love with a wealthy aristocratic soldier who dies. Mr. Gilfil who has loved her all along then marries Caterina. She herself dies in childbirth. Despite his grief Mr. Gilfil ministers for many years to the people in Milby. This tale is a tragic story of love and loss and
redemptive service to other people. Eliot told realistic stories about ordinary people. She is the a novelist of great psychological depth as well as able to puncture the balloons of hypocrisy always afloat in human society.
Janet's Repentance. Janet is a wealthy woman who is also a battered wife. She is married to Mr Dempster who is a wealthy powerful attorney. Dempster is also an incorrigble drunk and wife beater. One night he cast Janet out into the cold. She is rescued by kind friends and the saintly Rev. Mr. Tryan. We see Janet rescued from despair to a life of useful service. We also overhear debates by the townspeople (serving as a Greek chorus in Eliot's works) commenting on the theological controversies of the day.
These three stories would lead to George Eliot's name becoming known in the literary London world and among the reading publis.Soon her authorial star would rise high in the wild blue yonder of literary immortality. Do yourself a favor and read this book.

Eliot's first is still a landmark
Eliot's first work here is still surprising in its form, its message, and its outlook. Eschewing the romantic elements of the early-mid 19th century, Eliot embraced (if not practically invented) realism--not necessarily that real life should constitute all texts, but that real people should inhabit them, changing characters, three-dimensional people with which the reader is nearly forced to sympathize. Eliot's narrators are constantly, though never tediously, beckoning our sympathies to these people--drab, regular, nondescript characters which still hold our fervent attention to the end.

I will not speak of the plots here, for you can look elsewhere for that. Suffice it to say that Eliot is the only feminist I will ever read. Her descriptions, always important and vital to the meaning of the story, are utterly incredible. This book is more like poetry in this regard--its imagery, its vibrancy.

If you buy this book, think of some of these questions:
-Why is it called "The Sad Fortunes of Amos Barton" and not "...of Milly Barton"?
-Always keep in mind the muddling of characters and concepts. Are there are any ideal characters in this book, or are nearly all characters both execrable and sympathetic at the same time? If there is an ideal character, why would Eliot do this? (Milly)
-When does Janet make her first appearance in her story? Why?

That's enough. This book isn't read enough. It's a fabulous introduction to Eliot, as well as one of her best works. Her scope here is much more focused than than of her other works, though not to disparage those too much...it's less than 400 pages, whereas Middlemarch is around 1000! Read this, then pick up Middlemarch.

If you want realism, and if you think Henry James isn't very readable, pick up this book. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (8)

A book too long
I started it twice and literally had to force myself the third time to read this book.My sister gave it to me and told me it was great.High society British, set in days of old stuffy society.Dorthea, so full of her intelligence, decided to marry a self acclaimed writer, who was putting together research for a never to be written book.In fact Mr. Cassobaun did nothing but research.Dorthea, realizing a woman of those times could not write and be taken seriously, would do the next best thing by assisting the great man with his building of a great book.Like a sponge, she married this stuffy "intelligent" man, and found he didn't really want an eager assistant, but he thought his research was over her head.Meanwhile, her likeable sister married and had a great life.Of course, she eventually sees that she made a mistake and blah, blah, blah, you know how it goes. Dorthea was a drag and without her sister and colorful uncle, I would have tossed it.Also, of course, since my sister gave it to me, I felt obligated to finish it.

insightful lines
This is a must read book considering all the references to it in literature. But why? The dialog and narrative direction are remarkably similar to that of Jane Austin books and neither is especially relevant from anything but a historical perspective. I suspect that apart from those values there are the wonderfully insightful lines such as these:

"Souls have complexions too: what will suit one will not suit another."

"A man's mind - what there is of it - has always the advantage of being masculine, - as the smallest birch-tree is of a higher kind than the most soaring palm, - and even his ignorance is of a sounder quality."

"...when a woman is not contradicted, she has no motive for obstinacy in her absurdities."

"Pride helps us; and pride is not a bad thing when it only urges us to hide our own hurts - not to hurt others."

"...the mistakes that we male and female mortals make when we have our own way might fairly raise some wonder that we are so fond of it."

"The difficult task of knowing another soul is not for young gentlemen whose consciousness is chiefly made up of their own wishes."

"But Aquinas, now - he was a little too subtle, wasn't he? Does anybody read Aquinas?"

"...it is seldom a medical man has true religious views, - there is too much pride of intellect."

Dickensian, but better
George Eliot has woven a wonderful story here about marriage, rural life, and reputations in 19th century England.The characters are all flawed but I enjoyed them nonetheless.Life is full of decisions, and, unfortunately our decisions can come back to haunt us all our lives.Still we must make the best of things and the characters here do (in their own ways).I was impressed with the author's (Ms. Eliot?) wit and searing intelligence.She doesn't overwhelm with details and descriptions - there is rarely a wasted word - hard to imagine over this many pages.The volume has lots of helpful footnotes.It is a great bargain for anyone who wants to see what a truly great novel is.

good book...but problems with this edition?
I bought the Barnes and Noble edition of this book back in 2004. I just got around to reading it. I enjoyed it a lot. It's a rich novel with lots of still-relevant insights regarding life. But the edition! There were spelling mistakes or typos on practically every page. It's jarring to read and it began to drive me crazy towards the end. Hopefully there is a new Barnes and Noble edition of the book and they have since corrected these mistakes.

The most intelligent book in the English language
That is high praise, I know, but I couldn't think of any better superlatives. George Eliot writes with such keen insight into such diverse lives, it staggers the imagination. Virginia Woolfe wrote that Eliot was one of the few nineteenth century authors who wrote for grown up people, and I couldn't agree more. She never insults her readers by telling them what their opinion should be of any of her characters. They are all intricately drawn with an even hand, good traits and bad. Just when you think you've found a character that it is impossible to sympathize with, Eliot debunks your opinion in a single poignant paragraph.

I read and loved this book in college, and I've read it every two or three years since. It never wears thin. Anyone who wants to know how perfectly seamless a novel can be must read this masterpiece. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (123)

Silas Marner, by George Eliot
Silas Marner is a classic.Once you come to terms with the old English the characters take on an intertwining story of symbolism and intrigue.A great plot dealing with human nature at it's best and worst.A good story of any age.

Great Listening
I read the book as a teen and enjoyed listening to it again. It is superbly done with great acting and music. I would recommend it to anyone who has to take a long trip either by land, air, or sea, as it helps to quickly pass the time.

Sweet Story
Silas Marner is a broken man.In training to be a religious man, he is falsely accused of being a thief and is betrayed by his best friend.Marner leaves town in disgrace and moves to a new place, where he mostly keeps to himself, weaving all day to make money.His gold, stored in a secret hole during the day and taken out to be stacked and counted in the evening, is his only companion.

When Marner's money is stolen, his world is rocked again, and he lives in devastation and regret.But when an orphan appears in his cabin and nobody steps forward to claim her, Marner finally finds something of meaning in his life.

This is a really sweet story of how a child's love can melt even the toughest of hearts.The path to Marner's destruction is long and heartbreaking, and my only complaint about the book is that there is so little about the life Silas and Eppie live together.I would have liked to have seen more of her growing up and the two of them forming a bond.

Not a classic
This book is billed as a reproduction of a classic edition of Silas Marner. It appears as is someone just scanned the pages of a classic edition and bound them together. There is no warmth to this edition. The pages are overwhelimingly bright white with a reproduced page in the middle. Doesn't even have a book title on the edge binding. This is not the edition for anyone who loves the warmth and comfort of reading classic books.

Almost as good as the book
As usual, Focus on the Family does a wonderful job at dramatizing this classic story.They use first-class voice actors and sound effects.However, this version does not quite reach the level of the original book. It is not that there is any lack of quality, but just that something is lost in translation when a book is dramatized.No matter how good a dramatization is, it loses some of the depth of the book.

However, this dramatization is high-quality entertainment and I highly recommend it.But if you like this dramatized version of Silas Marner, then you will like the original novel even more. ... Read more

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This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

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Gentle linen weaver Silas Marner is wrongly accused of a heinous theft, and he exiles himself from the world-until he finds redemption and spiritual rebirth through his unselfish love for an abandoned child who mysteriously appears one day at his isolated cottage. Somber, yet hopeful, Eliot's realistic depiction of an irretrievable past, tempered with the magical elements of myth and fairy tale, remains timeless in its understanding of human nature and is beloved by every generation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Wonderful book!
I chose this book for my book club because it's a wonderful story, written by a great author, and it's short enough that people who don't usually choose to read classics can still make it through this one.My parents adopted 3 children, so I love this story's look at adoption and how it's the love and time put into raising a child that are important; being related by blood doesn't matter.This book shows that our mistakes can't truly be hidden; they will always be there in the back of our minds bugging us until they are exposed in the end.So it's best to take responsibility for our mistakes and go through the repentance process, instead of hiding mistakes for "convenience."I love how Silas is healed from his suffering and gloom through the love of a child.George Eliot is a masterful author.

A sublimely boring and depressing book
I am convinced that if they did not force people to read this book in tenth grade, no one would ever read it again. I love to read and I love books, but I hated this book in tenth grade and many years of life experience since then have not made it one iota more palatable.

Please bear in mind that this review is purely based on my personal experience and weltanschauung. Your mileage may vary.

From the BBC
Jan 28 2010 - Melvyn Bragg discussed this novel with leading academics in the UK. See [...] where this can be listened to............

SILAS MARNER


Published in 1861, Silas Marner is by far Eliot's shortest and seemingly simplest work. Yet beneath the fairytale-like structure, of all her novels it offers the most focused expression of Eliot's moral view. Influenced by the deconstruction of Christianity pioneered by leading European thinkers including Auguste Comte and Ludwig Feuerbach, Silas Marner is a highly sophisticated attempt to translate the symbolism of religion into purely human terms.

The novel tells the story of Silas, a weaver who is thrown out of his religious community after being falsely charged with theft. Silas is embittered and exists only for his work and his precious hoard of money - until that money is stolen, and an abandoned child wanders into his house.

By the end of her lifetime, George Eliot was the most powerful female intellectual in the country. Her extraordinary range of publications encompassed novels, poetry, literary criticism, scientific and religious texts. But beneath her fierce intellecualism was the deep convinction that for society to continue, humans must connect with their fellow humans. And it is this idea that forms the core of her writing.

I love this book
This is a book I read over and over again. I picked it up the for the first time when I was 15 years old. It was required reading in English class. Being a cynical teenager, I balked at it at first. As the class got into reading it, I was totally taken with the complex story line. I loved it. It is one of the best books I ever read and reread. A few years ago, I mentioned it to an English teacher who jokingly asked me to "compare and contrast the moral revelation between Scrooge in a Christmas Carol and Silas Marner". Well I replied, Scrooge changed his ways and realized what was important by being confronted with the unlikely encounter with the supernaternal; Silas Marner came to his realization through "bad eyesight". My answer brought much laughter, which of course was my intention. Read this book and love it.

surprisingly well read
I was worried that I would not enjoy this recording after discussing it with my local librarian. I was very pleasantly surprised. In a few places, the language is a little tedious. Mostly, it is read with a lively colorful and varying voice, that brings the novel vibrantly alive. That is saying a lot since it is piece of writing that is almost 150 years old. ... Read more

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One of George Eliot's most ambitious and imaginative novels, Romola is set in Renaissance Florence during the turbulent years following the expulsion of the powerful Medici family during which the zealous religious reformer Savonarola rose to control the city. At its heart is Romola, the devoted daughter of a blind scholar, married to the clever but ultimately treacherous Tito whose duplicity in both love and politics threatens to destroy everything she values, and she must break away to find her own path in life. Described by Eliot as written with my best blood', the story of Romola's intellectual and spiritual awakening is a compelling portrayal of a Utopian heroine, played out against a turbulent historical backdrop. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Romola is the only George Eliot novel named for the heroine; a tale of intrigue, love, murder and faith in renaissance Florence
Romola was published in "The Cornhill" magazine in 14 parts from July 1862 to August 1863. It is George Eliot's foray into the realm of historical fiction made popular by the earlier novels of Sir Walter Scott. Eliot is a great English novelists known for such classics as Adam Bede; The Mill on the Floss; Felix Holt; Middlemarch (her masterpiece), Scenes of Clerical Life and Daniel Deronda. Romala is the only novel she wrote not set in the British Isles. It is her least popular and known work though she considered it her favorite. The book is lengthy and intricate in its recounting of the life of the title heroine Romola in fifteenth century Florence. The major players are:
Romola Bardi: She is the idealistic daughter of a blind scholar Bardo de Bardi. She falls in love with the young and amoral Tito Melema a Greek who has arrived in Florence. Tito is the assistant to Bardo in the latter's classical studies. Tito sells the precious classical library of Bardo. Tito's selfish character is revealed to Romola who leaves Florence for a short time in utter despair. Savanarola persuades her to return to the city.
Tito also betrays Bernado del Nero one of five men executed by the government. Bernado is the godfather of Romola and dies before her eyes in a gruesome beheading. Romola learns that Tito was instrumental in the arrest and death of del Nero. Romola becomes a supporter of Savanrola as she ministers to the poor. She also learns of his adultery.
Tito Melema: Handsome husband of Romola who has a second family with the poor girl Tess. (she has two children by Tito). Tito is a schemer and adulterer who is ambitious for fame and fortune. He has stolen money and abandoned to slavery his stepfather Baldassarri. Baldassarri tracks down Tito with murder in his heart. Baldassari reveals the deep and sinful past of Tito to Romola.
I do not agree that the characters in this novel are flat. Villains like Tito and Baldassarri are well drawn as is Romala. Eliot was the first great psychological novelist in English influencing such writers as Henry James.
Savanorola is the real life religious reformer who seeks to clean up decadent Florence. He is famous for the bonfire of vanities in which Florentines threw away many luxury items in an effort to become more faithful to God. The reformer was burned at the stake in 1498.
The City of Florence is a character during these turbulent times. Pietro de Medic the ruler of Florence has died and the French army under Charles VIII has become an occupying power. The League of Venice declares war on the French and Florentines. Hunger and plague run rampant through the streets of Florence on the Arno River. The political machinations are hard to follow. Machiavelli the real life author of "The Prince": appears in the book.
The novel concludes with the death of Savanarola and Tito. Romola has taken Tessa and her two children under her wing. Romola, like George Eliot, is a kind woman who learns the secret to life is helping others as a good samaritan. She has emerged from her personal tragedies to become a wonderful woman. The Penguin edition contains a definition of many Italian words and phrases used in Romola, textual emendations made to the manuscript and an incisive and helpful introduction. Penguins are the best paperbacks for classics!
George Eliot and her lover George Henry Lewes did a great deal of on site research in Florence; read deeply in the politics of the Renaissance era and put that knowledge to work in Romola. The book is a classic which tells a fascinating story. Like all of George Eliot's works it is a gem in the literary crown of the author. Romola is hard reading but the story is compellinig and it is worth your time and effort.

A Neglected Gem
Funny how Eliot's least-loved novel today was the author's personal favorite and her best seller during her lifetime. How did it slide into relative obscurity?Partly because Eliot's acknowleged forte is her depiction of rural life in Victorian England, whereas this novel is set in a large Italian city (Florence) during the Renasaissance.Also, the novel does bog down a bit in its own scholarliness, as nearly every reviewer has mentioned.Still, the innumerable references to prominent Florentines can be glossedover without losing much.As for the urban setting, Eliot's Florence is every bit as vivid as Dickens' London, or Dostoevsky's St. Petersburg.And, of course, every page is filled with Eliot's trademark wisdom.
For anyone who cares about great books, all seven of Eliot's novels are absolutely mandatory.So, by all means start with "Adam Bede" or "Middlemarch", but don't neglect "Romola."
A word about the Konneman edition:I love the compact format (It fits easily into a briefcase or purse), the lovely cover art and the high-quality cloth binding.Be advised, however, that it is loaded with typos, some of them hilarious.It's still a good buy, however.

everything you expect from George Eliot
Romola was engrossing and, of course, very well-written.I'm even inspired to find out more about a historical period that's not really one of my favorites.

One of my best surprises as a reader.
When one starts reading a Victorian novelist, one prepares before hand to face a certain amount of wooden, heavy-handed moralizing, as every great narrative of the epoch is fraught with the opposition between the calls of pleasure and the calls of duty, between seeking for one's private advantage and sticking to one's role, with the writer making the latter to win overwhelming. This novel is no different, in that it's the dutiful Romola that has the upper hand over her nice and debauched husband Tito Melena in the end. However, the novel being set in late Renaissance Italy- a countrywith which George Eliot had an enduring love affair - it captures the atmosphere of the time and place in such a beautiful way that this enormous, throughly reserched historical novel has such a flowing, luxurious style that takes an almost liquid quality, like a fresh, transparent scream flowing along a summer Mediterranean landscape. Also, in the person of Savonarola, Eliot menaged to introduce the figure of the idealist turned evil through his attachment to his call. In short: a gorgeous novel. Loved it!

Gorgeous and underrated
Romola is constantly called Eliot's weakest novel, with even serious critics reluctant to praise it. However, it was seen in the 19th century as Eliot's masterpiece. Some of the blame for the novel going out of fashion must rest with F.R. Leavis who said that "few will want to read Romola a second time, and few can ever have got through it once without some groans." If Leavis, viewed as one of the great literary minds, thinks this, then more average readers like us are bound to be put off.

True, the start of Romola is bogged down in detail, but it is introduced by a wonderful, stirring and majestic 'Proem' which sees the Angel of the Dawn sweeping across the Earth and loftily states how humanity is the same now as it was when Romola is set. After this, the notes are best ignored - consult them separately, and concentrate on getting into the book. It is a stirring and sometimes hard read, and moves one with awe at what Eliot has created - you really feel you are experiencing Florence in the 15th century. There is one scene that stands out for me - the haunting and almost surreal episode where Romola drifts by boat to an apparent coastal haven. Images of peace and life are reversed disturbingly.

So ignore Leavis and the dissenters. If you've read another Eliot, you'll like it. If you haven't, maybe start with something else, but come back, for it's a rewarding read ... Read more