' Was her life to be always like this?
- always bringing some new source of inward strife?' When the miller Mr Tulliver becomes entangled in lawsuits he sets off a chain of events that will profoundly affect the lives of his family & bring into conflict his passionate daughter Maggie with her inflexible but adored brother Tom As she grows older Maggie's discovery of romantic love draws her once more into a struggle to reconcile familial & moral claims with her own desires Strong-willed compassionate & intensely loyal Maggie seeks personal happiness & inner peace but risks rejection & ostracism in her close-knit community Opening with one of the most powerful fictional evocations of childhood The Mill on the Floss (1860) vividly portrays both the 'oppressive narrowness' & the appeal of provincial England the comedy as well as the tragedy of obscure lives George Eliot's most autobiographical novel was also her most controversial & has been the subject of animated debate ever since This edition combines the definitive Clarendon text with a lively new introduction & notes ABOUT THE SERIES For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features including expert introductions by leading authorities helpful notes to clarify the text up-to-date bibliographies for further study & much more