George Eliot

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

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Life,
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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
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GEORGE
ELIOT; A CRITICAL STUDY OF HER LIFE, WRITINGS &
PHILOSOPHY***

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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