cal Life. This same year she also began working on hope of improving their condition lies in education her first novel, Adam Bede (1859). and learning to think for themselves, not in legisla-The plot of Adam Bede is based on a story about tive programs. a confession of child murder made to Eliot's aunt, Eliot returned to the rural with her next, and fin-Elizabeth Evans, by a girl in prison. Elizabeth Evans est, novel, Middlemarch (1871-1872). Originally con-was a Methodist preacher and the original of the Dinah ceived as two separate works, "Miss Brooke" and Morris character. With its pairings of contrasting "Middlemarch," the novel presents a broad canvas of characters—the two brothers, Adam and Seth, and community life with parallel plots concerning un-Dinah and Hetty—the novel provides an early example happy marriages with one partner outgrowing the of Eliot's skill at characterization. Likewise, the garru-other, and false hopes of scientific discoveries pre-lous Mrs. Poyser is a memorable supporting character. vented or marred because of the arbitrariness of time, The Mill on the Floss, published in 1860, is medical and social reforms blocked because of igno-viewed by many scholars as her most autobiographi-rance, and the cancerous effect of money on human cal work. The heroine, Maggie Tulliver, is highly strung relationships. Despite the broad scope and complica-and intelligent, of intense sensibility, and possessing tions of intertwining stories, Middlemarch presents artistic and poetic tastes. From conflicting tempera-some of her strongest characterizations and plotting. ments within her family and the incongruity of Subtitled "A Study of Provincial Life," it is a complex Maggie's character with her surroundings spring un-panoramic work focusing on the social, religious, eco-happiness and ultimate tragedy. Her love for her nomic, political, and personal interrelationships brother, Tom, is thwarted by his lack of understand-among a number of characters. Eliot states her basic ing, and the intellectual and emotional sides of her premise in the work's "Prelude": a natural conflict oc-nature are starved. Eventually Maggie is turned out of curs between personal growth and ambition when an her brother's house and ostracized by the community individual is faced with social or other adversaries. after being innocently but irremediably compromised Hence her provincial characters are concerned more by her cousin's fiancé. The situation appears irrecon-with materialism and conformity than with personal cilable; but a flood descends upon the town, and substance, and her two protagonists, Dorothea Brooke Maggie courageously rescues Tom from the Mill. There and Tertius Lydgate, must overcome apathy and in-is a moment of revelation for Tom before the boat is tolerance to exercise their idealism. Her handling of overwhelmed and both brother and sister are plot, as a carefully worked-out organic whole with drowned. every character and incident forming a "contributory With the publication of Silas Marner in 1861, and integral part," as David Cecil called it, is excel-Eliot again focuses on the innocent individual lent, as are her many carefully delineated, psychologi-wrongly driven out of a seemingly virtuous commu-cally complex characters, her sensitivity to setting, and nity Gradually Marner finds happiness through his her complete awareness of the cultural and intellec-love for an orphan, Eppie. A solemn and somewhat tual currents of her day. The concern above all for a bleak story, Eliot intended Silas Marner "to set in a rational approach to life enables her to see the shal-strong light the remedial influences of pure, natural, low hypocrisies and narrow prejudices of the major-human relations." ity of the people in the world she describes. Com-Romola (1863), Eliot's only historical novel, is set pared to the overwhelming novels of her day, as ER. during the Italian Renaissance. According to Lewes, Leavis noted, Middlemarch can be best compared with contemporary reviewers met it "with a universal howl the work of Tolstoy. of discontent." Eliot, however, thought it her best Between Felix Holt and Middlemarch, Eliot tried work. "There is no book of mine," she wrote, "about her hand at writing a closet drama, The Spanish Gypsy which I more thoroughly feel I could swear by every (1868). Although contemporary reviews were posi-sentence as having been written with my best blood." tive, Henry James's evaluation of the work reflects the With her next book, Felix Holt, the Radical attitude of most modern critics: 'The Spanish Gypsy (1866), Eliot again departed from her usual render-is not a genuine poem," he declared. "It lacks the hur-ing of rural communities and townsfolk, this time rying quickness, the palpitating warmth, the bursting capturing the urban environment in her only overtly melody through a glass smoked by the flame of medi-political novel. In the novel she provides a political tative vigils." model for reforms: Felix is noble-minded and self-Eliot's last novel, Daniel Deronda (1876), is con-sacrificing, deliberately choosing the life of a humble sidered by many critics to be one of the finest, most artisan in order to show his fellow workers that the sensitive portrayals of Jewish life ever created by a

DOI link for cal Life. This same year she also began working on hope of improving their condition lies in education her first novel, Adam Bede (1859). and learning to think for themselves, not in legisla-The plot of Adam Bede is based on a story about tive programs. a confession of child murder made to Eliot's aunt, Eliot returned to the rural with her next, and fin-Elizabeth Evans, by a girl in prison. Elizabeth Evans est, novel, Middlemarch (1871-1872). Originally con-was a Methodist preacher and the original of the Dinah ceived as two separate works, "Miss Brooke" and Morris character. With its pairings of contrasting "Middlemarch," the novel presents a broad canvas of characters—the two brothers, Adam and Seth, and community life with parallel plots concerning un-Dinah and Hetty—the novel provides an early example happy marriages with one partner outgrowing the of Eliot's skill at characterization. Likewise, the garru-other, and false hopes of scientific discoveries pre-lous Mrs. Poyser is a memorable supporting character. vented or marred because of the arbitrariness of time, The Mill on the Floss, published in 1860, is medical and social reforms blocked because of igno-viewed by many scholars as her most autobiographi-rance, and the cancerous effect of money on human cal work. The heroine, Maggie Tulliver, is highly strung relationships. Despite the broad scope and complica-and intelligent, of intense sensibility, and possessing tions of intertwining stories, Middlemarch presents artistic and poetic tastes. From conflicting tempera-some of her strongest characterizations and plotting. ments within her family and the incongruity of Subtitled "A Study of Provincial Life," it is a complex Maggie's character with her surroundings spring un-panoramic work focusing on the social, religious, eco-happiness and ultimate tragedy. Her love for her nomic, political, and personal interrelationships brother, Tom, is thwarted by his lack of understand-among a number of characters. Eliot states her basic ing, and the intellectual and emotional sides of her premise in the work's "Prelude": a natural conflict oc-nature are starved. Eventually Maggie is turned out of curs between personal growth and ambition when an her brother's house and ostracized by the community individual is faced with social or other adversaries. after being innocently but irremediably compromised Hence her provincial characters are concerned more by her cousin's fiancé. The situation appears irrecon-with materialism and conformity than with personal cilable; but a flood descends upon the town, and substance, and her two protagonists, Dorothea Brooke Maggie courageously rescues Tom from the Mill. There and Tertius Lydgate, must overcome apathy and in-is a moment of revelation for Tom before the boat is tolerance to exercise their idealism. Her handling of overwhelmed and both brother and sister are plot, as a carefully worked-out organic whole with drowned. every character and incident forming a "contributory With the publication of Silas Marner in 1861, and integral part," as David Cecil called it, is excel-Eliot again focuses on the innocent individual lent, as are her many carefully delineated, psychologi-wrongly driven out of a seemingly virtuous commu-cally complex characters, her sensitivity to setting, and nity Gradually Marner finds happiness through his her complete awareness of the cultural and intellec-love for an orphan, Eppie. A solemn and somewhat tual currents of her day. The concern above all for a bleak story, Eliot intended Silas Marner "to set in a rational approach to life enables her to see the shal-strong light the remedial influences of pure, natural, low hypocrisies and narrow prejudices of the major-human relations." ity of the people in the world she describes. Com-Romola (1863), Eliot's only historical novel, is set pared to the overwhelming novels of her day, as ER. during the Italian Renaissance. According to Lewes, Leavis noted, Middlemarch can be best compared with contemporary reviewers met it "with a universal howl the work of Tolstoy. of discontent." Eliot, however, thought it her best Between Felix Holt and Middlemarch, Eliot tried work. "There is no book of mine," she wrote, "about her hand at writing a closet drama, The Spanish Gypsy which I more thoroughly feel I could swear by every (1868). Although contemporary reviews were posi-sentence as having been written with my best blood." tive, Henry James's evaluation of the work reflects the With her next book, Felix Holt, the Radical attitude of most modern critics: 'The Spanish Gypsy (1866), Eliot again departed from her usual render-is not a genuine poem," he declared. "It lacks the hur-ing of rural communities and townsfolk, this time rying quickness, the palpitating warmth, the bursting capturing the urban environment in her only overtly melody through a glass smoked by the flame of medi-political novel. In the novel she provides a political tative vigils." model for reforms: Felix is noble-minded and self-Eliot's last novel, Daniel Deronda (1876), is con-sacrificing, deliberately choosing the life of a humble sidered by many critics to be one of the finest, most artisan in order to show his fellow workers that the sensitive portrayals of Jewish life ever created by a

cal Life. This same year she also began working on hope of improving their condition lies in education her first novel, Adam Bede (1859). and learning to think for themselves, not in legisla-The plot of Adam Bede is based on a story about tive programs. a confession of child murder made to Eliot's aunt, Eliot returned to the rural with her next, and fin-Elizabeth Evans, by a girl in prison. Elizabeth Evans est, novel, Middlemarch (1871-1872). Originally con-was a Methodist preacher and the original of the Dinah ceived as two separate works, "Miss Brooke" and Morris character. With its pairings of contrasting "Middlemarch," the novel presents a broad canvas of characters—the two brothers, Adam and Seth, and community life with parallel plots concerning un-Dinah and Hetty—the novel provides an early example happy marriages with one partner outgrowing the of Eliot's skill at characterization. Likewise, the garru-other, and false hopes of scientific discoveries pre-lous Mrs. Poyser is a memorable supporting character. vented or marred because of the arbitrariness of time, The Mill on the Floss, published in 1860, is medical and social reforms blocked because of igno-viewed by many scholars as her most autobiographi-rance, and the cancerous effect of money on human cal work. The heroine, Maggie Tulliver, is highly strung relationships. Despite the broad scope and complica-and intelligent, of intense sensibility, and possessing tions of intertwining stories, Middlemarch presents artistic and poetic tastes. From conflicting tempera-some of her strongest characterizations and plotting. ments within her family and the incongruity of Subtitled "A Study of Provincial Life," it is a complex Maggie's character with her surroundings spring un-panoramic work focusing on the social, religious, eco-happiness and ultimate tragedy. Her love for her nomic, political, and personal interrelationships brother, Tom, is thwarted by his lack of understand-among a number of characters. Eliot states her basic ing, and the intellectual and emotional sides of her premise in the work's "Prelude": a natural conflict oc-nature are starved. Eventually Maggie is turned out of curs between personal growth and ambition when an her brother's house and ostracized by the community individual is faced with social or other adversaries. after being innocently but irremediably compromised Hence her provincial characters are concerned more by her cousin's fiancé. The situation appears irrecon-with materialism and conformity than with personal cilable; but a flood descends upon the town, and substance, and her two protagonists, Dorothea Brooke Maggie courageously rescues Tom from the Mill. There and Tertius Lydgate, must overcome apathy and in-is a moment of revelation for Tom before the boat is tolerance to exercise their idealism. Her handling of overwhelmed and both brother and sister are plot, as a carefully worked-out organic whole with drowned. every character and incident forming a "contributory With the publication of Silas Marner in 1861, and integral part," as David Cecil called it, is excel-Eliot again focuses on the innocent individual lent, as are her many carefully delineated, psychologi-wrongly driven out of a seemingly virtuous commu-cally complex characters, her sensitivity to setting, and nity Gradually Marner finds happiness through his her complete awareness of the cultural and intellec-love for an orphan, Eppie. A solemn and somewhat tual currents of her day. The concern above all for a bleak story, Eliot intended Silas Marner "to set in a rational approach to life enables her to see the shal-strong light the remedial influences of pure, natural, low hypocrisies and narrow prejudices of the major-human relations." ity of the people in the world she describes. Com-Romola (1863), Eliot's only historical novel, is set pared to the overwhelming novels of her day, as ER. during the Italian Renaissance. According to Lewes, Leavis noted, Middlemarch can be best compared with contemporary reviewers met it "with a universal howl the work of Tolstoy. of discontent." Eliot, however, thought it her best Between Felix Holt and Middlemarch, Eliot tried work. "There is no book of mine," she wrote, "about her hand at writing a closet drama, The Spanish Gypsy which I more thoroughly feel I could swear by every (1868). Although contemporary reviews were posi-sentence as having been written with my best blood." tive, Henry James's evaluation of the work reflects the With her next book, Felix Holt, the Radical attitude of most modern critics: 'The Spanish Gypsy (1866), Eliot again departed from her usual render-is not a genuine poem," he declared. "It lacks the hur-ing of rural communities and townsfolk, this time rying quickness, the palpitating warmth, the bursting capturing the urban environment in her only overtly melody through a glass smoked by the flame of medi-political novel. In the novel she provides a political tative vigils." model for reforms: Felix is noble-minded and self-Eliot's last novel, Daniel Deronda (1876), is con-sacrificing, deliberately choosing the life of a humble sidered by many critics to be one of the finest, most artisan in order to show his fellow workers that the sensitive portrayals of Jewish life ever created by a