George Eliot

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George Eliot; A Critical Study of Her Life,?by George Willis Cooke

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Writings & Philosophy, by George Willis Cooke
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Title: George Eliot; A Critical Study of Her Life, Writings & Philosophy
Author: George Willis Cooke
Release Date: March 22, 2004 [eBook #11680]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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GEORGE ELIOT: A CRITICAL STUDY OF HER LIFE, WRITINGS AND PHILOSOPHY.
BY
GEORGE WILLIS COOKE
AUTHOR OF "RALPH WALDO EMERSON: HIS LIFE, WRITINGS AND PHILOSOPHY."
1884

PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION.
The publication of a new edition of this work permits me to say that the essay on "The Lady Novelists," quoted in the seventh chapter, was written by George Henry Lewes. Its opinions, however, are substantially those of George Eliot, and they will be found in harmony with her own words. Confessing to the error, I yet venture to let the quotations, and the comments on them, stand as at first made. The three poems mentioned on page 75, were among the latest of the productions of George Eliot's pen.
It has been suggested to me that I have not done perfect justice to George Henry Lewes, especially in what I say of his books on the Spanish drama and the life of Goethe. I have carefully reconsidered what I wrote of him, and find no occasion for any change of judgment, though two or three words might properly give place to others of a more appreciative meaning.
My book has met with much greater praise than I could have expected. Its errors, I have no doubt, are quite numerous enough; and yet I venture to think the main thought of the book is correct.
MARCH, 1884.

CONTENTS.
PREFACE
I. EARLY LIFE
II. TRANSLATOR AND EDITOR
III. MARRIAGE
IV. CAREER AS AN AUTHOR
V. PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
VI. LITERARY TRAITS AND TENDENCIES
VII. THEORY OF THE NOVEL
VIII. POETIC METHODS
IX. PHILOSOPHIC ATTITUDE
X. DISTINCTIVE TEACHINGS
XI. RELIGIOUS TENDENCIES
XII. ETHICAL SPIRIT
XIII. EARLIER NOVELS
XIV. ROMOLA
XV. FELIX HOLT AND MIDDLEMARCH
XVI. DANIEL DERONDA
XVII. THE SPANISH GYPSY AND OTHER POEMS
XVIII. LATER ESSAYS
XIX. THE ANALYTIC METHOD
XX. THE LIMITATIONS OF HER THOUGHT
XXI. BIBLIOGRAPHY

I.
EARLY LIFE.
The poet and the novelist write largely out of personal experience, and must give expression to the effects of their own history. What they have seen and felt, gives shape and tone to what they write; that which is nearest their own hearts is poured forth in their books. To ignore these influences is to overlook a better part of what they write, and is often to lose the explanation of many features of their work. Shakspere is one of those who are of no time or place, whose words gain no added meaning in view of what he was and how he lived; but it is not so with a great number of the best and most inspiring writers. The era in which they lived, the intellectual surroundings afforded them by their country and generation, the subtle phases of sentiment and aspiration of their immediate time and place, are all essential to a true appreciation of their books. It is so of Goethe, Byron, Shelley, Hugo, Wordsworth, Emerson, and how many more!
As we must know the eighteenth century in its social spirit, literary tendencies, revolutionary aims, romantic aspirations, philosophy and science, to know Goethe, so must we know the nineteenth century in its scientific attainments, agnostic philosophy, realistic spirit and humanitarian aims, in order to know George Eliot. She is a product of her time, as Lessing, Goethe, Wordsworth and Byron were of theirs; a voice to utter its purpose and meaning, as well as a trumpet-call to lead it on. As Goethe came after Lessing, Herder and Kant, so George Eliot came after Comte, Mill and Spencer. Her books are to be read in the light of their speculations, and she embodied in literary forms what they uttered as science or philosophy.
Not only is a poet's mind affected by the tone of thought about him, but his personal experiences and surroundings are likely to have a large influence on what he writes. Scott was deeply affected by the romantic atmosphere of his native land. Her birthplace and youthful surroundings had a like effect on George Eliot. The Midland home, the plain village life, the humble, toiling country folk, shaped for her the scenes and characters about which she was to write. Some knowledge of her early home and the influences amidst which her mind was formed, help largely to an appreciation of her books and the views of