This volume of specially-commissioned essays provides accessible introductions to all aspects of George Eliot's writing by some of the most distinguished new and established scholars and critics of Victorian literature. The essays are comprehensive, scholarly and lucidly written, and at the same time offer original insights into the work of one of the most important Victorian novelists, and into her complex and often scandalous career. Discussions of her life, the social, political, and intellectual grounding of her work, and her relation to Victorian feminism provide valuable criticism of everything from her early journalism to her poetry. Each essay contributes to a new understanding of the great fiction, from Adam Bede and The Mill on the Floss to Daniel Deronda. With its supplementary material, including a chronology and a guide to further reading, this Companion is an invaluable tool for scholars and students alike.**Review"Provides helpful overviews of central issues in George Eliot's art." Studies in English Literature"Throughout, the language is appropriate for the intended audience, so readers new to Eliot will find the volume helpful." CHOICE Dec 2001"These two volumes [are] each highly impressive in its own way ... truly a friendly volume ... The reader of these volumes will find interest, sympathy, and (most importantly) critical imaginatin, to open us cheeringly to new readings of the fictions of George Eliot." Victorian Studies"Splendid...[an] excellent work." Victorian Periodicals ReviewBook DescriptionThis volume of specially commissioned essays provides accessible introductions to all aspects of George Eliot's writing by some of the most distinguished new and established scholars and critics of Victorian literature. The essays are comprehensive, scholarly and lucidly written, and at the same time offer original insights into the work of one of the most important Victorian novelists, and into her complex and often scandalous career. With its supplementary material, including a chronology and a guide to further reading, this Companion is an invaluable tool for scholars and students alike.