The author George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) has been considered by many to be one of our finest novelists of the European tradition. A precursor to the Modernists of Virginia Woolf and Hemingway, George Eliot was in fact a Victorian writer who was one of the first to move the novel format away from its moralistic, or formal schema to a more realist psychological protrait of people's lives, as they may be lived. We can see here the continuing echoes of the great female writers of British History such as Bronte and Austen, who placed their stories in contemporary society (albeit with rather idealistic romances!).
George Eliot differed from her predecessors however, by her advance of what was then a 'radical' sensibility - a critique of society, industry, and the old order through the lives of the people who have to live in them. It is no great surprise that she was a student of the German materialist philosopher Feurbach (the pre-cursor to Marx) and was personal friends with Friedrich Engels, Charles Bray amongst others.
Her private life was no less scandalous than her intellectual and literary: a woman who wrote under a male penname to avoid the widely held accusation of 'silly Victorian Ladies writing silly novels'. Her novels The Mill on the Floss, Silas Marner and Middlemarch were anything but silly. She conducted a long term affair with the writer George Henry Lewes, even living together for twenty years as he and his lawful wife had agreed to have an open marriage.
For the collector, there is perhaps mixed news. George Eliot was so successful in the latter years of her life and in the years after her death, that there are a large number of reprints available of her early works. There are still special reprint editions of her works dating from the 1860s to the 1870s - during her own lifetime. Her popularity occurred at the time when literature and the novel form itself was becoming much more popular across the English-speaking world, with the proliferation of private printing presses. For the antiquarian, the most valuable editions to own are those dating from this time period (before 1880). Luckily, it is comparatively easy to get ahold of Eliot's most famous works from this period, if you are willing to accept a second impression or first edition reprint The Mill on the Floss can be found in its three-volume work for as little as $500, whereas a true first impression edition would cost closer to $1000). I would also suggest looking to George Eliot's other, lesser known works printed in the same period to distinguish your collection: Felix Holt The Radical, The Spanish Gypsy (narrative poem) or Romola.
Eliot,George. The Life of Jesus. Chapman Brothers (1846). Critically Examined By Dr. David Friedrich Strauss; Translated From The Fourth German Edition By Mary Ann Evans [George Eliot]; 3 Volumes.
Eliot,George. The Essence of Christianity. John Chapman (1855). By Ludwig Feuerbach; Translated From The Second German Edition By Marian Evans.
Eliot,George. Scenes of Clerical Life. William Blackwood and Sons (1858). 2 Volumes; A Series Of Three Tales,The Sad Fortunes Of The Reverend Amos Barton,Mr Gilfil'S Love-Story, AndJanet'S Repentance, Which First Appeared In Blackwood'S Magazine In 1857.
Eliot, George. Adam Bede. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London (1859). 3 Volumes.
Eliot, George. The Mill on the Floss. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London (1860). 3 Volumes
Eliot, George. Silas Marner. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh (1861). The Weaver Of Raveloe By George Eliot; Illustrated By Rockwell Kent; Includes Ad ForAutobiography Of Rev. Dr. Alexander Carlyle Listing The Second Edition For Sale.
Eliot, George. Romola. Bernhard Tauchnitz, Leipzig (1863). 3 Volumes; Feature Of ThisDe-Luxe Edition Is Some 50 Contemporary Photographs Mostly Of Historic Scenes In Florence (Firenze).
Eliot, George. Felix Holt. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh (1866). The Radical; 3 Volumes.
Eliot, George. The Spanish Gypsy. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh (1868).
Eliot, George. How Lisa Loved the King. Fields Osgood and Co., Boston (1869). Pseudonym For Evans, Mary Anne
Eliot, George. Novels of George Eliot. Fields, Osgood, and Co, Boston (1870). 5 Volumes Set; Vol 1: Which Is Adam Bede; Vol 2: The Mill On The Floss; Vol 3: Felix Holt; Vol 4: Scenes Of Clerical Life And Silas Marner; Vol 5: Romola.
Eliot, George. Middlemarch. William Blackwood, Edinburgh and London (1873).
Eliot, George. The Legend of Jubal. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London (1874).
Eliot, George. Middlemarch. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London (1875). A Study Of Provincial Life; New Edition - Complete In One Volume; This Is The Only Edition To Be Thoroughly Corrected By George Eliot.
Eliot, George. Daniel Deronda. William Blackwood (1876). 4 Volume Set Each Containing 2 Books; Vol.1. Book I: The Spoiled Child; Book Ii: Meeting Streams; Vol. Ii. Book Iii: Maidens Choosing; Book Iv: Gwendolen Gets Her Choice; Vol. Iii. Book V: Mordecal Book; Book Vi: Revelations; Vol. Iv. Book Vii: The Mother And The Son: Book Viii: Fruit And Seed; Include Works By John Esten Cooke; First Issue With The Misprint On Page 83 Of Volume 1
Eliot, George. Works. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh (1879). 13 Works In 30 Volumes;; Included Are: Daniel Deronda, 4 Vols, 1876; Impressions Of Theophrastus Such. 1879; The Spanish Gypsy.1868; The Legend Of Jubal And Other Poems. 1874. Middlemarch. 4 Vols. 1872. Adam Bene. 3 Vols. 1859. Felix Holt. 3 Vols. 1866. Romola. 3 Vols. 1863. Scenes Of Clerical Life. 2 Vols. 1858. The Mill On The Floss. 3 Vols. 1860. Essays Leaves From A Note-Book. 1884 Silas Marner. 1861
Eliot, George. Impressions Of Theophrastus Such. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh (1879).
Eliot, George. Romola. Smith, Elder and Co. (1880). 2 Volumes; Vellum Bound Souvenir Edition; With Photographic Illustrations By Frederick Leighton; Limited To 1000 Copies; Each Volume Contains 15 Mounted Photographic Illustrations Printed In Brown Tones, A Total Of 30 Plates, Mounted On Blank Paper Sheets.
Eliot, George. The Works. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh (1882). 1000 Copies; 10 Volume Set; The Works Are George Eliot, Adam Bede; The Mill On The Floss; Silas Marner; Scenes Of Clerical Life; Felix Holt; Romola; Middlemarch; Daniel Deronda, The Spanish Gypsy, The Legend Of Jubal and Impressions Of Theophrastus Such.
Eliot, George. Essays. William Blackwood and Sons (1884). And Leaves From A Note-Book; Preface By Charles Lee Lewes With The Sanction Of Eliot'S Husband And Lewes Friend Wilber Cross.
Eliot, George. George Eliots Life, as related in her letters and journals. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh (1885). 3 Volumes; This Collection Was Edited By John Walter Cross.
Eliot, George. The Works of George Eliot and Life. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London (1885). Edited By J.W. Cross; 24 Uniform Volumes:Romola (2 Volumes),Silas Marner - The Lifted Veil - Brother Jacob ,Adam Bede (2 Volumes),Scenes Of Clerical Life (2 Volumes),The Mill On The Floss (2 Volumes),Felix Holt (2 Volumes),Middlemarch (3 Volumes),Daniel Deronda (3 Volumes),The Spanish Gypsy,Jubal; And Other Poems, Old And New,Impressions Of Theophrastus Such,Essays And Leaves From A Note-Book,George Eliots Life As Related In Her Letters And Journals; The 3Life Volumes Also Include B/W Engravings.
Eliot, George. Works. Estes and Lauriat, Boston (1886). Limited Edition Of 500; 12 Volumes; Book Titles, Romola, Daniel Deronda, Silas Marner, The Lifted Veil, Brother Jacob And Scenes Of Clerical Life, Impressions Of Theophrastus Such, Poems Old And New, Middlemarch, Adam Bede, Felix Holt The Radical, Mill On The Floss.
Eliot, George. George Eliot's Complete Works. Estes and Lauriat, Boston (1887). 12 Volumes; 66 Full-Page Photo-Etching From Paintings; Romola; Middlemarch; Felix Holt; Daniel Deronda; Adam Bede; The Mill On The Floss; Scenes Of Clerical Life And Life Of George Eliot By George Willis Cook; Miscellaneous Essays; Poems.
Eliot, George. George Eliot Portfolio. Estes and Lauriat Publishers (1888). Being A Series Of Sixty Japanese Paper Proofs From Original Etchings And Photo Etchings Illustrating George Eliots Works; 250 Numbered Copies.
Eliot, George. Romola. Estes and Lauriat, Boston (1890). 2 Volumes; Deluxe Edition Of 250 Copies
Eliot, George. Works. Aldine Book Publishing Co.,Boston (1890). 8 Volumes; Including: Middlemarch, Romola, Mill On The Floss, Adam Bede, Daniel Deronda, Silas Marner, Felix Holt, Poems, Scenes Of Clerical Life, And Essays; Generously Illustrated With Black And White Plates From Drawings By W.L. Taylor.
Eliot, George. Works. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London (1892).
Eliot, George. George Eliots Works. Estes and Lauriat, Cambridge (1893). 1000 Copies; 24 Volumes Complete; Illus. With Etched Plates And Frontispieces From The Works Of Frederic Dielman, E, H. Garett, R. Swain Gifford, Frank Merrill, C. O. Murray, W. L. Taylor, And Others; Includes The Three Volume; George Eliots Life As Related In Her Letters And Journals, Arranged And Edited By Her Husband, J. W. Cross.
Eliot, George. Novels. William Blackwood (1893). 8 Volumes; Includes Adam Bede, The Mill On The Floss, Silas Marner, Scenes Of Clerical Life, Felix Holt, Romola, Middlemarch, And Daniel Deronda.
Eliot, George. George Eliot's Works. Estes and Lauriat, Boston (1895). 24 Volumes; Limited To 1000 Copies; Novels, Essays, Poems, Letters And A Biography By J. W. Cross.
Eliot, George. Felix Holt. Estes And Lauriat, Boston (1896). The Radical; 2 Volumes, Limited To 250 Copies.
Eliot, George. Works of George Eliot. Dana Estes and Co, Boston (1898). Compete 24 Volumes; Included In The Set: Romola (2 Vol), Silas Marner, The Lifted Veil/ Brother Jacob (1 Vol), Adam Bede (2 Vol), Scenes Of Clerical Life (2 Vol), The Mill On The Floss (2 Vol), Felix Holt (2 Vol), Middlemarch (3 Vol), Daniel Deronda (3 Vol), The Spanish Gypst (1 Vol), Jubal; And Other Poems, Old And New (1 Vol), Impressions Of Theophrastus Such (1 Vol), Essays, And Leaves From A Note-Book (1 Vol), George Elioys Life (3 Vol).
Eliot, George. The Complete Works of George Eliot. George D. Sproul (1899). 12 Volumes; Limited To 1000 Copies.
Eliot, George. The Novels of George Eliot. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh (1901). 8 Volumes; 1: Adam Bede. 2: The Mill On The Floss. 3:Silas Marner, Bound With 4: Scenes Of Clerical Life. 5: Felix Holt. 6: Romola. 7: Middlemarch. 8: Daniel Deronda.
Eliot, George. The Works of George Eliot. William Blackwood, Edinburgh and London (1901). 12 Volumes; Adam Bede, The Mill On The Floss, Felix Holt, Romola, Scenes Of Clerical Life, Silas Marner, Middlemarch (2 Vols), Daniel Deronda (2 Vols), The Spanish Gypsy, The Legend Of Jubal And Other Poems, Old And New And Impressions Of Theophrastus Such, Essays And Leaves From A Note-Book
Eliot, George. The Works. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston and New York (1907). 25 Volumes; Illustrated With Over 150 Fine Plates; Includes All Of Eliot'S Major Novels, As Well As Her Essays, And A Life Of The Author,As Related In Her Letters And Journals, Arranged And Edited By Her Husband J. W. Cross.; Original Drawings By Charles Brock And Others, As Well As Photogravures After Photographs Taken Especially For This Edition By C. E. Walmsley.
Eliot, George. The Life and Works of George Eliot. Charles E. Lauriat Company Boston (1908). 20 Volumes; With Photogravure Illustrations From New Drawings By Gertrude Demain Hammond, R.I., And Frederick L. Stothard; Including George Eliot'S Life As Related In Her Letters And Journals; Arranged And Edited By Her Husband, J.W. Cross.
Eliot, George. The Writings of George Eliot. Houghton Mifflin and Company Boston and New York (1908). Together With The Life By J.W. Cross; 24 Volumes; 750 Copies ; Photogravure Illustrations On Japon Paper; Works Included Are: [I] Scenes Of Clerical Life.[Ii] Scenes Of Clerical Life. The Lifted Veil.[Iii-Iv] Adam Bede.[V-Vi] The Mill On The Floss.[Vii] Silas Marner. Brother Jacob. [Viii-Ix] Romola. [X-Xi] Felix Holt, The Radical. [Xii-Xiv] Middlemarch, A Study Of Provincial Life.[Xv-Xvii] Daniel Deronda. [Xviii] The Spanish Gypsy. [Xix] Poems [Xx] Impressions Of Theophrastus Such. [Xxi] Essays And Leaves From A Notebook [Xxii] Essays And Uncollected Papers.[Xxiii-Xxv] George Eliots Life As Related In Her Letters And Journals, Arranged And Edited By Her Husband, J.W. Cross.
Eliot, George. SCENES OF CLERICAL LIFE. Macmillan (1909). Illustrated By Hugh Thomson With 16 Color Plates And Other Drawings.
Eliot, George. The Writings Of George Eliot. Houghton Mifflin Company Boston (1909). Together With The Life By J. W. Cross; 25 Volumes; Illustrated With A Different Etching Frontispiece In Each Volume.
Eliot, George. THE WORKS OF GEORGE ELIOT. Jenson Society (1910). 20 Volumes; Limited To 1000 Registered Volumes
Eliot, George. The Works of George Eliot. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh (1910). 10 Volumes: Spanish Gypsy; Adam Bede; Felix Holt; Silas Marner; Daniel Deronda; Theophrastus Such; Romola; Scenes Of Clerical Life; The Mill On The Floss; Middlemarch.
Eliot, George. Works of George Eliot. Jefferson Press (1910). Complete Works In 20 Volumes; Limited Numbered Edition Of 1000 Copies.
Eliot, George. George Eliots Works. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London (1912). The Warwick Edition - 12 Volumes; Set Comprises Adam Bede, The Mill On The Floss, Silas Marner, Scenes Of Clerical Life, Felix Holt, Romola, Middlemarch, Daniel Deronda,The Spanish Gypsy And Others
Eliot, George. The George Eliot Letters. Oxford University Press and Yale University Press, and New Haven (1955). Edited By Gordon S. Haight; 9 Volumes.