Author
George Eliot
1819-1880
George Eliot (1819-1880) is a public-domain author available on Rivro. Read free books, explore subjects, and discover related classics.
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Books by George Eliot
Middlemarch
"Middlemarch" by George Eliot is a novel published in 1871-1872. Set in a fictional English Midlands town from 1829 to 1832, it weaves together multiple intersecting stories exploring the status of women, marriage, idealism, and political reform. The narrative follows Dorothea Brooke's search for purpose, Dr. Lydgate's medical ambitions, and several other inhabitants navigating love, debt, scandal, and social change against the backdrop of the approaching Reform Act of 1832.
The Mill on the Floss
"The Mill on the Floss" by George Eliot is a novel published in 1860. It follows siblings Tom and Maggie Tulliver as they grow up at their family's mill in rural England. Their close but troubled bond is tested by family bankruptcy, forbidden friendships, and conflicting desires. Maggie struggles between her passionate nature and social duty, caught between her intellectual connection with Philip Wakem and her attraction to Stephen Guest. The novel explores the tension between personal yearning and family loyalty in provincial Victorian society.
Silas Marner
"Silas Marner" by George Eliot is a novel published in 1861. A wrongly accused weaver flees his community after betrayal destroys his faith and future. He settles in rural Raveloe, living as a reclusive miser obsessed with hoarding gold coins. When his treasure is stolen, despair overwhelms him—until a mysterious child appears at his door on a snowy night. This unexpected arrival transforms his bitter existence, drawing him back into society and giving him a new purpose, even as hidden secrets threaten to upend his fragile happiness.
Adam Bede
"Adam Bede" by George Eliot is a novel first published in 1859. Set in the rural community of Hayslope in 1799, it follows a love entanglement among four characters: the virtuous carpenter Adam Bede, the beautiful but vain Hetty Sorrel, the charming young squire Arthur Donnithorne, and the devout Methodist preacher Dinah Morris. When forbidden attraction leads to seduction and devastating consequences, the story unfolds into tragedy involving child murder, guilt, and the search for redemption in a close-knit pastoral world.
George Eliot's Life, as Related in Her Letters and Journals. Vol. 1 (of 3)
"George Eliot's Life, as Related in Her Letters and Journals. Vol. 1 (of 3)" by George Eliot is a biographical narrative composed of personal letters and journal entries, likely written in the late 19th century. This volume, edited by J.W. Cross, provides an introspective glimpse into Eliot's life, encapsulating both her intellectual evolution and emotional experiences. Through the correspondence, readers can engage with the formative years and complex inner world of Mary Ann Evans, better known as George Eliot, shedding light on both the celebrated author and the woman behind the pen. At the start of this volume, the narrative establishes the context of George Eliot's upbringing, detailing her birth on November 22, 1819, at Arbury Farm and her early years at Griff House. The opening portion emphasizes the profound impact of her family, particularly her father, Robert Evans, whose character traits she inherits, and the memorable influences of her environment in the Midlands. The text introduces snippets of her childhood experiences, revealing her complex emotions, aspirations, and relationships within her familial sphere. The prose also hints at the realities of life in early 19th century England, highlighting Eliot's reflective nature and the seeds of literary inspiration that would flourish in her later works as she navigates the trials of youth and the nurturing of her intellect.
The Essays of "George Eliot" Complete
"The Essays of 'George Eliot'" by George Eliot is a collection of literary essays written in the late 19th century. The essays cover a wide range of topics, reflecting on human emotions, societal dynamics, and the nature of literature, presenting George Eliot's insightful analysis of motives and character. As the work encompasses her contributions to periodical literature, it provides a detailed examination of her thoughts and ideas that contribute to her legacy as a prominent female novelist of her time. At the start of the collection, the preface sets the stage for the essays, explaining the curiosity surrounding George Eliot's earlier writings. It highlights her unique talent for analyzing human motives, positioning her as a distinctive voice in fiction, separate from her contemporaries who focus primarily on storytelling. The opening chapters delve into the intricacies of women’s roles in society and literature, with the discussion focusing on Eliot's perspective on characters like Dorothea Brooke from her famous novel "Middlemarch." A key theme emerges in the exploration of the disparity between external appearances and internal realities, as well as the constraints placed on women's lives, fostering a rich conversation about identity, societal expectations, and emotional depth that runs throughout Eliot's work.
Daniel Deronda
"Daniel Deronda" by George Eliot is a novel published in 1876. Set in Victorian England, it weaves together two parallel stories: one following the beautiful but selfish Gwendolen Harleth, who makes a disastrous marriage to escape financial ruin, and another tracking the compassionate Daniel Deronda as he searches for his own identity while becoming drawn into London's Jewish community. Their fates intertwine in this exploration of moral choices, identity, and the emerging dream of a Jewish homeland.
George Eliot's Life, as Related in Her Letters and Journals. Vol. 2 (of 3)
"George Eliot's Life, as Related in Her Letters and Journals. Vol. 2 (of 3)" by George Eliot is a biographical work that chronicles the author's life through her letters and journals. Written in the late 19th century, this volume details her experiences and reflections during the height of her literary career, evidencing her thoughts on writing, relationships, and intellectual pursuits. The narrative is edited by her husband, J. W. Cross, providing an intimate perspective on Eliot's life and the societal challenges she faced as a prominent female author. The opening of this volume presents Eliot's intimate thoughts and experiences from January to December 1858, focusing heavily on the reception of her work "Scenes of Clerical Life" and her burgeoning success as a writer. We see her grappling with the implications of her anonymous authorship and the praise she receives from literary giants like Charles Dickens and J. A. Froude, which both exhilarates and petrifies her. Throughout her journal entries, Eliot reflects on her creative processes, her evolving identity, and her personal life, offering rich insights into her artistic spirit and the societal norms of her time. This glimpse into her life serves as an excellent entry point for readers interested in understanding the intertwining of Eliot's personal and professional worlds.
The Lifted Veil
"The Lifted Veil" by George Eliot is a novella published in 1859. Departing from Eliot's realistic fiction, this Victorian horror tale follows Latimer, a man cursed with the ability to see into the future and read others' thoughts. He becomes obsessed with Bertha, his brother's fiancée, whose mind remains mysteriously closed to him. After marrying her, Latimer discovers dark truths about her nature. The story explores extrasensory perception, fate, and includes a shocking climax involving a blood transfusion experiment that brings the dead momentarily back to life.
Scenes of Clerical Life
"Scenes of Clerical Life" by George Eliot is a collection of three short stories published in 1858. Eliot's first published fiction introduces readers to the lives of Anglican clergymen in the fictional English Midlands town of Milby. Set during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, these interconnected tales explore religious reform, tensions between established and dissenting churches, and social issues including poverty, alcoholism, and domestic violence. Each story centers on a different clergyman navigating faith and community in changing times.
George Eliot's Life, as Related in Her Letters and Journals. Vol. 3 (of 3)
"George Eliot's Life, as Related in Her Letters and Journals. Vol. 3 (of 3)" by Eliot is a biographical account consisting of letters and journal entries written in the late 19th century. This volume focuses on aspects of Eliot's personal and creative life, detailing her travels, literary endeavors, and reflections on relationships and society. Through her correspondence, the work captures her evolving thoughts on literature, philosophy, and the socio-political issues of her time, revealing the intricate connections between her life experiences and her writing. At the start of this volume, Eliot shares her experiences from January to December 1867, detailing a tour in Spain with her partner, George Henry Lewes. The letters convey the couple's joy and intellectual engagement during their journey, highlighting their admiration for Spanish culture and scenery. Eliot reflects on their travels, discussions on literature and philosophy, and her developing literary projects, including her poem "The Spanish Gypsy." The opening section sets the stage for a journey marked by exploration, both geographically and intellectually, offering readers a glimpse into the rich intellectual life of one of the 19th century's most prominent literary figures.
Felix Holt, the Radical
"Felix Holt, the Radical" by George Eliot is a social and political novel published in 1866. Set during England's 1832 Reform Act, the story follows an idealistic working-class watchmaker who fights corruption while Harold Transome, an opportunistic landowner, runs for Parliament as a Radical. At the center stands Esther Lyon, who discovers she's the secret heiress to the Transome estate and must choose between a life of wealth with Harold or principled poverty with Felix—a decision symbolizing the novel's deeper conflict between social values.
Romola
"Romola" by George Eliot is a historical novel written between 1862 and 1863. Set in 1490s Florence during the Italian Renaissance, it follows the scholarly Romola de' Bardi and her marriage to Tito Melema, a charismatic Greek scholar with dangerous secrets. As political upheaval sweeps through Florence under Savonarola's religious fervor, Romola must navigate betrayal, moral awakening, and the collision between personal loyalty and civic duty in a city torn by war, famine, and spiritual revolution.
Index of the Project Gutenberg Works of George Eliot
"Index of the Project Gutenberg Works of George Eliot" by George Eliot is a comprehensive compilation of the author's works, reflective of the Victorian era. This book does not contain a narrative or thematic exploration like a typical novel; rather, it serves as an index or a resource guide for readers interested in George Eliot's literary contributions. The likely topic revolves around her various works, including novels, essays, and autobiographical writings, making it an important reference for admirers of her literature. The index offers a systematic listing of George Eliot’s major works, such as "Middlemarch," "Silas Marner," and "The Mill on the Floss," as well as essays and volumes of her life as chronicled through letters and journals. Each entry leads readers to different narratives that explore complex human experiences, social issues, and philosophical inquiries typical of Eliot’s writing. This overview can help readers navigate the vast body of her work, allowing for an in-depth exploration of her characters, themes, and the intricacies of her storytelling style.
Brother Jacob
"Brother Jacob" by George Eliot is a novella written during the Victorian era, likely in the mid-to-late 19th century. This story captures the life of David Faux, a confectioner whose ambition drives him to leave his family and seek fortune in the West Indies, only to return with little more than a sense of disillusionment. The narrative explores themes of ambition, family dynamics, and social status, particularly the unexpected twists of fate that shape David's character and circumstances. The tale follows David Faux, who initially dreams of finding success in the confectionery business but ends up stealing his mother’s savings to fund his emigration. Despite his high hopes of becoming prominent in a foreign land, he instead finds himself disillusioned with the realities of life in the West Indies, ultimately returning home to a life he had tried to escape. Upon his return, he assumes the name Edward Freely, hoping to start anew in the town of Grimworth. However, his past catches up with him in the form of his brother Jacob, an idiot who complicates David's plans and becomes an impediment to his social aspirations. The story unfolds with a rich examination of societal expectations, family loyalty, and the nature of success, culminating in David's failure to attain the life he longed for, thus highlighting the intricate ways in which life can thwart one's ambitions.
Impressions of Theophrastus Such
"Impressions of Theophrastus Such" by George Eliot is a work of fiction published in 1879. This experimental final work takes the form of literary essays by an imaginary scholar who reveals his eccentric character through eighteen satirical studies of social types. The narrator observes various personalities—ambitious scientists, failed writers, angry temperaments, and moral swindlers—while his own voice occasionally merges with Eliot's perspective. Through these portraits, the work explores ambition, authenticity, and the breakdown of civilization in Victorian society.
O May I Join the Choir Invisible! and Other Favorite Poems
"O May I Join the Choir Invisible! and Other Favorite Poems by George Eliot et al." is a collection of poetry that showcases the works of George Eliot, one of the most prominent literary figures of the Victorian era. This book was published in the late 19th century and encompasses a variety of poetic themes, likely exploring the intricacies of human emotion, social issues, and the beauty of nature. The collection features poignant reflections on life, loss, love, and the enduring power of art and memory. The poems within the collection offer a range of voices and styles, illustrating Eliot's deep understanding of humanity and its struggles. The titular poem, "O May I Join the Choir Invisible!", expresses a yearning for transcendence and a legacy of goodness that lingers after death. Other poems, such as “Mother and Poet,” delve into personal grief while also touching on broader themes of patriotism and sacrifice. Through rich imagery and emotional depth, the collection captures the complexities of the human experience, inviting readers to contemplate their own beliefs, relationships, and aspirations within the tapestry of life.
Tom and Maggie Tulliver
"Tom and Maggie Tulliver" by George Eliot is a novel published in 1860. The story follows siblings Tom and Maggie Tulliver as they grow up at Dorlcote Mill on the River Floss in England. Their close but troubled relationship unfolds against family bankruptcy, bitter feuds, and lost love. Maggie's intellectual spirit clashes with societal expectations, while forbidden attractions and loyalties test both siblings. As they navigate duty, desire, and forgiveness, the river that has shaped their lives ultimately determines their fate.
How Lisa Loved the King
"How Lisa Loved the King" by George Eliot is a narrative poem written during the late 19th century. The poem transports readers to a historical setting in Sicily, where themes of unrequited love and chivalry play a central role. Through the lens of a young girl named Lisa, the poem explores her profound admiration for King Pedro of Aragon and the emotional turmoil that ensues from her lofty affections. The story follows Lisa, a gentle and modest daughter of a wealthy trader, who falls deeply in love with King Pedro during a grand festival in Palermo. Despite her family's hopes for her to marry an honorable man, Lisa's heart yearns for the king—a figure of noble strength and greatness. As Lisa's love grows, so does her despair when she believes her feelings can never be reciprocated. However, her plight reaches the king indirectly through a singer named Minuccio, who conveys Lisa's passionate message. Upon learning of her suffering, King Pedro is moved by her love and vows to honor her, ultimately bringing joy and recognition to Lisa's devotion. The narrative culminates in a celebration of love that transcends class, showcasing both chivalric ideals and the power of genuine affection.