The Mill on the Floss

The Mill on the Floss, George Eliot’s second novel published in 1860, explores the lives of siblings Tom and Maggie Tulliver on the fictional River Floss in post-Napoleonic England. Centering on their complex relationships with family, love, and personal ambitions, the story delves into themes of character, societal expectations, and personal struggles, with Maggie emerging as a profoundly influential character. Drawing on semi-autobiographical elements, Eliot offers a deeply insightful and detailed examination of human relationships and societal pressures, making it a richly layered and enduring work of 19th-century literature.