Best Selling Books by George Eliot

When William Blackwood, George Eliot’s publisher, first saw the manuscript of Felix Holt in 1866 he could not contain his enthusiasm; in a letter to a friend he described the novel as “a perfect marvel. The time is 1832 just after the passing of the Reform Bill, and surely such a...series of pictures of English Life, manners, and conversation never was drawn. You see and hear the people speaking. Every individual character stands out a distinct figure.” A political radical and a child of the working class, Felix has lost faith in a political system in which candidates never represent the interests of the working class. Harold Transome, the cynical son of wealthy Tory landowners, embraces radical politics for very different reasons. Both Harold and Felix vie for the affections of Esther Lyon, and she must weigh her feelings for them with the social and material goals she has set for herself. Their personal drama unfolds against the broad canvas of social and political upheaval of 1830s England. This edition is based on the text of the first edition of the novel published in three volumes in 1866, and includes a full introduction, a wide range of appendices including reviews, as well as Eliot’s “Address to Working Men, by Felix Holt”; “The Legal Plot of Felix Holt”; and a chronology of Eliot’s life and career.

Illustrated Edition: Features 20 stunning illustrations enhancing the reading experience. Includes Detailed Summary: A concise and engaging summary to enhance understanding and enjoyment. Character List Included: Comprehensive list and descriptions of the characters enriching the narrative. Author Biography: Learn about George Eliot, the intellectual powerhouse behind the novel. Step into the richly woven world of "Middlemarch," George Eliot''s unmatched novel that explores the intricacies of community life and human connections in a small English town. This illustrated edition breathes new life into Eliot''s complex narrative, making it more accessible and visually captivating. Set in the fictitious town of Middlemarch during the 1830s, the novel delves deep into the lives of several inhabitants, whose ambitions, romances, and destinies intertwine in the social tapestry of this provincial locale. At the heart of the narrative is Dorothea Brooke, a young woman of noble intent trapped in the throes of societal expectation and an ill-fated marriage. Parallel stories of love, reform, and identity unfold through characters like the idealistic yet doomed doctor Tertius Lydgate and the passionate, willful Rosamond Vincy. This edition not only includes a summary that distills the complex relationships and moral challenges of the story but also offers a detailed list of characters, helping readers navigate and reflect on the motivations and implications of their actions. A biography of George Eliot is also featured, providing context to the creation of this literary masterpiece, often hailed as one of the greatest novels written in the English language. "Middlemarch" is more than just a novel; it is a vast canvas of human emotion and societal critique, illuminating the eternal struggle between personal desires and moral values. Whether you are a returning reader or new to this profound work, this illustrated edition promises a timeless journey through one of literature''s most cherished landscapes.

Drawing on George Eliot''s own childhood experiences to craft an unforgettable story of first love, sibling rivalry and regret, The Mill on the Floss is edited with an introduction and notes by A.S. Byatt, author of Possession, in Penguin Classics. Brought up at Dorlcote Mill, Maggie Tulliver worships her brother Tom and is desperate to win the approval of her parents, but her passionate, wayward nature and her fierce intelligence bring her into constant conflict with her family. As she reaches adulthood, the clash between their expectations and her desires is painfully played out as she finds herself torn between her relationships with three very different men: her proud and stubborn brother; hunchbacked Tom Wakem, the son of her family''s worst enemy; and the charismatic but dangerous Stephen Guest. With its poignant portrayal of sibling relationships, The Mill on the Floss is considered George Eliot''s most autobiographical novel; it is also one of her most powerful and moving. In this edition, writer and critic A.S. Byatt, author of Possession, provides full explanatory notes and an introduction relating The Mill on the Floss to George Eliot''s own life and times. Mary Ann Evans (1819-80) began her literary career as a translator, and later editor, of the Westminster Review. In 1857, she published Scenes of Clerical Life, the first of eight novels she would publish under the name of ''George Eliot'', including The Mill on the Floss, Middlemarch, and Daniel Deronda.Drawing on George Eliot''s own childhood experiences to craft an unforgettable story of first love, sibling rivalry and regret, The Mill on the Floss is edited with an introduction and notes by A.S. Byatt, author of Possession, in Penguin Classics. Brought up at Dorlcote Mill, Maggie Tulliver worships her brother Tom and is desperate to win the approval of her parents, but her passionate, wayward nature and her fierce intelligence bring her into constant conflict with her family. As she reaches adulthood, the clash between their expectations and her desires is painfully played out as she finds herself torn between her relationships with three very different men: her proud and stubborn brother; hunchbacked Tom Wakem, the son of her family''s worst enemy; and the charismatic but dangerous Stephen Guest. With its poignant portrayal of sibling relationships, The Mill on the Floss is considered George Eliot''s most autobiographical novel; it is also one of her most powerful and moving. In this edition, writer and critic A.S. Byatt, author of Possession, provides full explanatory notes and an introduction relating The Mill on the Floss to George Eliot''s own life and times. Mary Ann Evans (1819-80) began her literary career as a translator, and later editor, of the Westminster Review. In 1857, she published Scenes of Clerical Life, the first of eight novels she would publish under the name of ''George Eliot'', including The Mill on the Floss, Middlemarch, and Daniel Deronda.