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Eliot, George
Hardcover
Published January 1, 1932
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 11, 2026
Tom and Maggie Tulliver are brought up at Dorlcote Mill by the River Floss, with their mother and father and a selection of mostly censorious aunts who live nearby. Tom is destined for great things if he can have the education his father aspires to but they mostly despair of Maggie ('the young wench') her father's favourite but a law unto herself. Her relationship with her brother is key to the story and off to a wobbly start when we discover she's forgotten to feed Tom's rabbits while he's been away and, consequently, they've died. She dreads telling him. A little later she cuts her own hair in a fit of pique after being criticised by the loquacious aunts.
Tom's education under the tutelage of a vicar is not adequate to prepare him for the world of work and life becomes more complicated when his father, in calling in debts, has his own called in which plunges them into poverty. Both his uncle and old friend, Bob Jakin try to help.
Maggie's childhood friend, the crooked-shaped Philip Wakeham remains her secret companion even when his lawyer father makes a move to buy the mill for himself. In so doing he becomes Mr Tulliver's sworn enemy. Cousin Lucy has the flattering attention of a wealthy suitor in Stephen Guest. Maggie is delighted but finds herself increasingly the centre of his attention when she goes to stay. Her life is marked by wrestling with her conscience, resolving to do better, self-sacrifice and loyalty.
Meanwhile, the river keeps on flowing while older folk recall the floods of the past.
A classic I haven't read for many years and which could just as well as been written by Thomas Hardy in terms of the dreaded hand of fate in determining the narrative outcome.
Tom's education under the tutelage of a vicar is not adequate to prepare him for the world of work and life becomes more complicated when his father, in calling in debts, has his own called in which plunges them into poverty. Both his uncle and old friend, Bob Jakin try to help.
Maggie's childhood friend, the crooked-shaped Philip Wakeham remains her secret companion even when his lawyer father makes a move to buy the mill for himself. In so doing he becomes Mr Tulliver's sworn enemy. Cousin Lucy has the flattering attention of a wealthy suitor in Stephen Guest. Maggie is delighted but finds herself increasingly the centre of his attention when she goes to stay. Her life is marked by wrestling with her conscience, resolving to do better, self-sacrifice and loyalty.
Meanwhile, the river keeps on flowing while older folk recall the floods of the past.
A classic I haven't read for many years and which could just as well as been written by Thomas Hardy in terms of the dreaded hand of fate in determining the narrative outcome.
August 28, 2024
OK, long, hard to get through.
June 1, 2026
While difficult to get into due to the style of writing in the 1860's, I soon became very interested in the story. Then, I could not put it down! Read it! It's a wonderful story.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews