The Mill on the FlossPublished in 1860, The Mill on the Floss was the second novel published by George Eliot (the pen name of Mary Ann Evans). Set in the late 1820s or early 1830s, it tells the story of two young people, Tom and Maggie Tulliver, from their childhood into early adulthood. Their father, Jeremy Tulliver, owns Dorlcote Mill on the river Floss, and the children grow to adolescence in relative comfort. However Mr. Tulliver is litigious and initiates an unwise legal suit against a local solicitor, Mr. Wakem. The suit is thrown out and the associated costs throw the Tulliver family into poverty, and they lose possession of the mill. The main character of the novel is Maggie Tulliver, an intelligent and passionate child and young woman, whose mental, romantic, and moral struggles we follow closely. As in Eliot’s other novels, the author shows a realistic and sympathetic understanding of human behavior. The Mill on the Floss is regarded as a classic of English literature, and has been made into both a film and a television series. |
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aunt Glegg aunt Pullet Bessy better boat bonnet brother chany conscious cousin Deane dear Dodson door Dorlcote Mill dread Duke of Wellington Dunlow Euclid everything eyes face father feeling Fibb's fond Garum girl give gypsies hair hand happy head heart husband Jakin Kenn Kezia knew lady live look Lucy Lucy's Luke Maggie's Magsie marriage married mind Miss Tulliver Moss mother Mumps mysen nature never niver Ogg's once pain perhaps Philip Wakem pity pocketknife poor pretty rat-catching Riley round seemed sense silent smile soon sort speak Stelling Stelling's Stephen Guest strong sure talk tell there's things thought told Tom's tone trembling Tulliver's turned uncle Glegg uncle Pullet voice walked wish woman wonderful words world's wife young