The Mill on the Floss: A Natural History

Twayne's Masterwork Studies #54

by Rosemary Ashton

This engaging analysis of George Eliot's 'The Mill on the Floss' examines the author's use of realism and symbolic tragedy, the impact of Darwinism on the novel, and the transformation of Eliot's personal experience in her fiction.

124 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1990

About the author

Rosemary Ashton is Emeritus Quain Professor of English Language and Literature and an Honorary Fellow of UCL.

Reviews

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice short work of single-author essays about The Mill on the Floss -- which is pretty much my favorite book, so reading about it is most often a pleasure. (Unless you're gonna be a huge weirdo about it.)

Interestingly, the main original thesis here is to present Eliot's novel as having been written with a strong connection to Darwinism, both in ideas and in literary devices. It's a pretty good argument. Not entirely up my alley, but I like that it's there.

Ashton has a really good voice as a critic that is easy to read and easy to take arguments from. I didn't agree with every conclusion, but I was still able to have a good time. The essays have the right amount of biographical insight, context of other critics, and original explanations. And happily they addressed a lot of the things I find most awesome about the book, so that is fun for me.

Especially RIYL the whole Maggie/Stephen thing. WHICH I REALLY DO.