George Eliot

نسل قلم #92

by Mathilde Blind

Detailed accounts of George Eliot's life have hitherto been singularly scanty. In the dearth of published materials a considerable portion of the information contained in this biographical study has, necessarily, been derived from private sources. In visiting the places connected with George Eliot's early life, I enjoyed the privilege of meeting her brother, Mr. Isaac Evans, and was also fortunate in gleaning many a characteristic fact and trait from old people in the neighbourhood, contemporaries of her father, Mr. Robert Evans. For valuable help in forming an idea of the growth of George Eliot's mind, my warm thanks are especially due to her oldest friends, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bray, and Miss Hennell of Coventry. Miss Jenkins, the novelist's schoolfellow, and Mrs. John Cash, also generously afforded me every assistance in their power.

Genres: Biography

154 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1883

About the author

Mathilde Blind (1841-1896) (originally Mathilde Cohen), was a poet. She was born at Mannheim, Germany, but settled in London about 1849, adopting the surname of her stepfather, Karl Blind. She published several books of poetry including: The Prophecy of Saint Oran and Other Poems (1881), The Heather on Fire: A Tale of Highland Clearances (1886), Songs and Sonnets (1893) and Birds of Passage: Songs of the Orient and Occident (1895). She translated Strauss's Old Faith and New and other works. She also wrote Lives of George Eliot in 1883 and Madame Roland in 1886.
Pseudonym: Claude Lake

Reviews

[Deborah Siddoway · Rating 3 out of 5]

This biography of George Eliot was published only three years after her death. Both writer and her subject are interesting from a historical perspective. Unfortunately, Blind is not always historically accurate, and seems to be responsible for peddling one of the great literary myths, namely, that George Eliot had one hand larger than the other - for a more detailed analysis of this, please refer to Kathryn Hughes book Victorians Undone. One of the most fascinating aspects of this biography, however, is the blatant attempt to fully exonerate Eliot for any moral censure that she still suffered posthumously for her relationship with George Henry Lewes. Blind writes almost as if it was perfectly acceptable for Lewes and Eliot to determine that they would live together as man and wife, despite the fact that he was still married. They began cohabiting prior to the enactment of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1857, which was the first time that divorce became more generally available, however, as Lewes was considered to be complicit in his wife's adultery, there were no grounds available to him for divorce to be possible even after the coming into force of the Act. Blind is at pains to justify Eliot's choices, which were at odds with accepted social behaviours at that time. In short, at the time, it was somewhat scandalous that Eliot had moved in with a married man. Interestingly, Blind herself, financially self-sufficient, and a well-educated writer and intellectual, had an ongoing relationship with the painter Ford Madox Brown, although the nature of that relationship (and whether or not it was sexual) is often speculated upon. She perhaps had her own motivations to try and justify Eliot's relationship? Eliot was indeed a superb writer, and her novels are part of a rich legacy left by 19th century novelists, however, I think some more balance might have been appropriate. Nevertheless, Blind's biography represents a fascinating starting point for any scholar seeking to gain a greater understanding of the life of one of our greatest female authors.

[Gregg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard, if not impossible to rate a book like this; Blind is, I think, the only contemporary critic of Eliot I’ve really read so far, and in light of everything we now know about Eliot, the book seems redacted, soft-footed. No mention of the heartbreaking affair she had in her youth with John Chapman; nothing about her infatuation with Herbert Spencer. We only know of these liaisons because of correspondence unearthed over the years that Blind didn’t have access to. Blind also soft pedals Eliot’s split with her religion and father, and the scandalous details of her honeymoon in Venice are untouched.

But Blind weaves back and forth between Eliot’s fiction and life, injecting observations and asides I found tremendously illuminating. It was much like getting the ear of an expert scholar, but one still rolling in enthusiasm over the material rather than lecturing at the podium. I’m already itching to get a look at her writings on the Romantics, her own “Ascent of Man.”

Plus, did you know her brother tried to assassinate Otto Von Bismarck? Neither did I. Holy hell.

[K.S. Trenten · Rating 4 out of 5]

George Eliot’s personality, presence and life are described in tandem with her literary works; creating a portrait of her as a woman and an artist. Much of the biographer as well as the subject of the biography was revealed in the critques and analyses of Eliot’s works; one I felt inclined to question. At the same time, it was a portrait infused with much of George Eliot’s own words, bringing her back to life so vividly; I marveled at the qualities I shared with her while wincing at her disgust for ones I didn't.

Over all, this was an insightful, eloquent read; one I found relevant and powerful as this literary figure displayed many of the fears and insecurities which many a writer, myself included, have shown. If you are curious about who George Eliot was, this is an interesting place to start.

[Lizzie]

Downloaded this via Google Books out of academic interest -- it is the first full biography (1883!) and seems to be the first source of many often-repeated factoids.

More importantly, though, it contains the most thorough account of Eliot's childhood possible, as the author went to her hometown and talked to everyone personally, including her siblings and friends of her father's, which is pretty untoppable today. Mic-drop!

But actually I just want to read all of that sometime because a very quick glance through that chapter reveals claims that little Mary Ann both actually went off with gipsies once AND cut off "one side of her hair in a passion." AHHH <3<3<3<3<3

[Ali · Rating 2 out of 5]

ـ جورج الیوت، تلیس کوپر، ترجمه ی انوشه حمزه ای، 1377
سری کتاب های جیبی و جمع و جور "نسل قلم" که شرح احوال، زندگی و آثار، و گهگاه نظر منتقدان متعدد در مورد یک نویسنده است، با مترجمین زبردست در زبان فارسی، کاری ست ستودنی و قابل تحسین، کمبودی که در ادبیات فارسی مشهود بود، و متاسفانه، و به احتمال قوی به دلیل شرایط، متوقف ماند. به نظر می رسد این سری آثار، به همت خشایار دیهیمی و یکی دو تن دیگر از اهل قلم در ایران شکل گرفته باشد. با تشکر و سپاس از این تلاش ادبی سترگ

[Margo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot about her life. Very interesting.