The Mill on the Floss in Reading the Classics

Mar 27, 2024 Henry Avila rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This could be retitled the Ecstasy and the Agony for what follows in George Eliot's ( Mary Ann Evans) superb novel, not surprisingly since I've read others of her excellent books. An ordinary setting just before the Victorian age of late 1820s England, in a small fictional rural port town St. Ogg's (modeled after Gainsborough) by a river where inevitably trade is how people there lived and survived. A routine story (but not) about two siblings older brother Tom Tulliver and younger sister Maggie This could be retitled the Ecstasy and the Agony for what follows in George Eliot's ( Mary Ann Evans) superb novel, not surprisingly since I've read others of her excellent books. An ordinary setting just before the Victorian age of late 1820s England, in a small fictional rural port town St. Ogg's (modeled after Gainsborough) by a river where inevitably trade is how people there lived and survived. A routine story (but not) about two siblings older brother Tom Tulliver and younger sister Maggie by four years, unusually close in fact but this will change in the future. Their father Jeremy is hot- tempered to his detriment, owner of the mill in the plot, suing Mr. Wakem wealthy lawyer for interfering with his building he believes. Bessy Tulliver a simple woman and mother of Tom and Maggie from a prominent family jealous of her three rich sisters, they married well. The children grow and the troubles with them too, Maggie, intelligent yet awkward in local society, feels abandoned when big brother goes off to school, ironic because she's smarter than he but back then women were ignored in education, it seemed superfluous. Little sister sprouts in beauty and the first to notice is Philip Wakem hunchbacked classmate of her brother...yes the son of hated Mr. Wakem, not a good situation for the family, she as a girl, ran away from home to join the Gypsies! Still more complications occurs meeting rich Stephen Guest at her beloved cousin Lucy's party. The attractions are powerful however this is Lucy's beau, from the frying pan into the fire, as temperatures rise Maggie's heart freezes , the chill wind can eviscerate an organ. One, two , too many boyfriends and both unacceptable to the stuffy village's traditions. The plot gets worse but you will need to read the novel to learn the particular consequences. George Eliot had a tumultuous life not common place indeed and this unconventional narrative reveals that in an otherwise era. A dark novel which won't be forgotten easily, still this has aspects of wisdom for those who desire it, always interesting though and an exciting ending. ...more

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