58 pages • 1 hour read
George EliotThe Mill on the Floss
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1860A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot, Maggie Tulliver grows up in a British seaport town with her brother Tom. Their father owns a mill and loses it due to financial trouble. Maggie faces societal judgment, particularly surrounding her controversial relationships. She experiences isolation and internal conflict as she navigates love, loyalty, and societal expectations. Topics include mental illness, financial hardship, and familial tension.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
George Eliot's The Mill on the Floss has been praised for its complex characters and exploration of societal pressures, especially in depicting Maggie Tulliver's struggles. The narrative is lauded for its emotional depth and realism but criticized for its dense prose and slow pacing. Overall, it remains a compelling read for its poignant themes and character development.
Who Should Read The Mill on the Floss?
Readers who enjoy The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot typically appreciate richly detailed character studies, complex family dynamics, and themes of societal constraints. Fans of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice or Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles may find this novel compelling, as it delves into similar emotional and social landscapes.