Comments on: Constructing George Eliot’s Reader

By: Stefanie

Stefanie — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:35:01 +0000

Iliana, I do believe there are books that have letters from everyday women, at least it appears to be so from what the author is citing. I will have to do more investigating. But yeah, can you imagine having what you can write about decided for you?

Dorothy, it is a fun combination to read about letters and Eliot. I’ve not read a book quite like this one before. I am hoping that the citations lead to more interesting books. This book has helped me understand a bit why everyone made a big deal about Clarissa having such lovely handwriting.

By: Dorothy W.

Dorothy W. — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:51:09 +0000

Oh, a George Eliot binge — how wonderful! This book sounds fascinating — I’m loving hearing about letters and Eliot both. I would certainly be in trouble in the Victorian era for my poor handwriting — how horrible that people felt they could draw conclusions that way!

By: iliana

iliana — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:58:58 +0000

How fascinating. I can’t believe there were expectations of what women were supposed to write in their letters. Makes you want to look for a book that complies letters from everyday women from that time doesn’t it.

By: Stefanie

Stefanie — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:38:00 +0000

Bloglily, I love those scenes too! It always reminds me of getting caught passing notes in school and then the teacher reading it out loud too the class. I think the post was delivered twice a day back in Eliot’s time. Can you imagine?

Eva, I am glad you are enjoying them. I think the rest of the book will not lend itself to chapter analysis, but if anything particularly interesting pops up I will be sure to share.

Sylvia, I know! with passages like that I don’t understand why critics call her letters boring. But then I am not reading her letters, I am reading a book about her letters. Still, I’d like to give them a go sometime.

Dark Orpheus, I think you are right about women in Eliot’s days having to be neurotic. It is likely that many of them were.

Maggie, I loved Mill on the Floss! Silas Marner too. I read Middlemarch at a stressful time in my life and could not give it justice. I hardly remember any of it and would like to read it again.

Litlove, I think I’d probably be tied to the neighboring stake! We could have a nice chat as we go up in flames

Bikkuri, don’t feel bad about forgetting Eliot is a woman. You are not the first and will probably not be the last to do so. I hope you have the chance to read some Eliot sometime. You are right, dangerous and undesirable are two different things. But it was a woman’s social duty to write letters which created quite a dilemma. And thank you. You keep writing too, okay?

Lisa, it is a fascinating book. I did not expect it to be so. There is also quite a nice note section with all kinds of things that I am adding to my TBR list. And I think quite a few of us would be in trouble from out handwriting!

Molly, so far this book is great. Even if the rest of it turns out to be horrid, the first two chapters are well worth the time.

Jenclair, oh yes. Enjoy!

Bibliobio, that is too bad about the journals being an expensive textbook. Have you tried getting it from your library? And if they don’t have it, ask about interlibrary loan. I got this one from my public library. Hopefully yours will have it too!

By: Biblibio

Biblibio — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:36:59 +0000

I’ve been making a point to read as much by George Eliot as I can. She’s one of my favorite authors. Unfortunately, the book I want to read most is basically her “Daniel Deronda” journals, but it’s a textbook and is astonishingly expensive. I haven’t read much beyond short biographies about her, but this sounds like an interesting one. I’ll keep an eye out.