Contemporaries on George Eliot's Works

An understanding of how George Eliot’s contemporaries were reading and responding to her published works helps us appreciate her reach, her fame, and her historical significance.

In this section, you will find commentary on Eliot's works published in periodicals during and shortly beyond her lifetime.

The George Eliot Archive offers far more reviews and commentary on Eliot's works than any print volume. As a digital scholarly edition, we are able to continuously expand as new items are identified. We have relied on the work of editors of printed collections as our starting point and continued to build our collection well beyond what has been available. Our digital edition more than quadruples the number of previously collected reviews of Middlemarch, facilitating new avenues of inquiry into the novel's early reception.

We also have an extensive collection of articles reporting on and summarizing lectures presented on George Eliot’s works and on her literary influence within and outside of England. As these documents demonstrate, Eliot's writing garnered widespread acclaim from professional critics and common citizens alike, who generally praised the creativity, wit, complex characters, and the moral philosophy incorporated into her writings.


If you are unable to locate a specific review or article about Eliot's works in this section, please let us know. We'll find it, upload it, and send you the link. 


"George Eliot." Burlington Weekly Free Press, 5 May 1876.

"Daniel Deronda — Third Part." Nonconformist, 12 Apr. 1876, p. 363.

Hutton, R. H. "Daniel Deronda [A Review]." The Spectator, 8 Apr. 1876.

Spencer, C. H. "George Eliot." Melbourne Review, 1 Apr. 1876, p. 145-162.

"George Eliot's Forthcoming Novel." Brisbane Courier, 28 March 1876, p. 3.

"The Reviewer: George Eliot's Forthcoming Novel."
Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939), 25 March 1876, p. 12.

"Daniel Deronda." Daily Gazette For Middlesbrough, 8 Mar. 1876, p. 3.

"Daniel Deronda." Daily Gazette, 8 Mar. 1876, p. 3.

"Literature: Daniel Deronda." Examiner, 4 Mar. 1876, p. 265.

"Daniel Deronda." York Herald, 1 Mar. 1876, p. 3.

Hutton, R. H. "George Eliot Heroines." The Spectator, 12 Feb. 1876.

"Daniel Deronda [A Review]." Academy, 5 February 1876, p. 120.

"From Our London Correspondent." York Herald, 3 Feb. 1876, p. 5.

"George Eliot's New Story." Nonconformist, 2 Feb. 1876, p. 110.

"Daniel Deronda." Milwaukee Daily Sentinel, 1 Feb. 1876, p. 3.

"Daniel Deronda." York Herald, 1 Feb. 1876, p. 3.

"Daniel Deronda." London Observer, 30 Jan. 1876, p. 7.

"Literature." Examiner, 29 Jan. 1876, p. 124.

Picciotto, James. "Deronda the Jew." The Gentleman's Magazine. New York, AMS Press, 1876. pp. 593-603.

Francillon, R. E. "George Eliot's First Romance." The Gentleman's Magazine. New York, AMS Press, 1876. pp. 411 - 427.

Smith, George Barnett. George Eliot in Derbyshire. London: Ward, Lock, and Tyler, Warwick House, Paternoster Row, 1876, Pgs. 1-91.

"Literary Notes." Belfast News-Letter, 7 Dec. 1875.

"George Eliot." Adelaide Observer, 4 December 1875, p. 6.

"George Eliot." Evening Journal, 25 November 1875, p. 3.

"George Eliot." South Australian Register, 25 November 1875, p. 5.

"Literary Gossip." Chelmsford Chronicle, 24 Sept. 1875, p. 7.

"Literary Gossip." Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 18 Sept. 1875, p. 3.

"Notes From the Athenæum." Glasgow Herald, 18 Sept. 1875, p. 7.

G.W. S. "News Item." New York Tribune, 26 Jul. 1875.

[G. W. S.]. New York Tribune, 26 Jul. 1875.

Internet Archive Open Library

"Mrs. Fawcett on Novels." Freeman's Journal, 11 Dec. 1874, p. 7.

"London, Friday, Dec. 11." London Daily News, 11 Dec.1874, p. 4.

S. P. "On George Eliot's 'Armgart.'" Nottinghamshire Guardian, 9 Oct. 1874, p. 6.

"News." Dundee Courier and Argus, 28 July 1874.

"Literature: George Eliot as a Poet." Aberdeen Journal, 24 June 1874, p. 6.

"Books Received." Graphic, 23 May 1874, p. 499.

"A Volume of Poems by George Eliot." Standard, 13 May 1874, p. 5.

"News." Western Times, 31 Mar. 1874, p. 6.

"London Notes." Ipswich Journal, 28 Oct. 1873, p. 2.

"Summary of News." Nottinghamshire Guardian, 20 June 1873, p. 4-5.

Smith, George Barnett. "George Eliot." Saint Paul's Magazine, May 1873, pp. 592–616.

Eliot, George. "'Sayings,' by George Eliot ('Adam Bede')." Williamstown Chronicle (Vic. : 1856 - 1954), 5 April 1873, p. 6.

Laing, Robert. "Middlemarch, a Study of Provincial Life." The Quarterly Review, Apr. 1873, pp. 336–369.

Broome, Frederick Napier. "Middlemarch." The Times, 7 Mar. 1873, p. 3.

James, Henry. "Middlemarch." The Galaxy, Mar. 1873, pp. 424–428.

"News." Tamworth Herald, 25 Jan. 1873, p. 3.

"Literature." Aberdeen Journal, 22 Jan. 1873, p. 6.

"Middlemarch [A Review]." Aberdeen Journal, 22 Jan 1873, p. 6

"Middlemarch." Chicago Daily Tribune, 19 Jan, 1873.

"Living Men of Letters." Standard, 13 Jan. 1873, p. 5.

Colvin, Sydney. "Critical Notices." The Fortnightly Review Volume XII. London, Virtue and Co., 1 January 1873, pp. 142-148.

Colvin, Sydney. The Fortnightly Review Vol XIII. London, Virtue and Co., 1 January 1873.

Simcox, Edith. "Middlemarch." The Academy, 1 Jan. 1873, p. 1-4.

"Middlemarch [A Review]." Edinburgh Review, January 1873, pp. 246-63.

Milnes, Richard Monckton. Middlemarch: a Study of Provincial Life. Edinburgh Review [American Review], Jan. 1873, pp. 126–135.

Fortnightly Review, vol. 19, Jan. 1873, pp. 142–147.

Internet Archive Open Library

"Middlemarch [A Review]." London Quarterly and Holborn Review, vol. 40, 1873, pp. 99-110.

Hutton, R. H. "Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life [A Review]." British Quarterly Review, vol. 57, 1873, pp. 407–429.

"Middlemarch." Graphic, 28 Dec. 1872, p. 610.

"Middlemarch [A Review]." The Saturday Review, 21 December 1872, pp. 796.

"The Humour of Middlemarch." Spectator, 14 December 1872, pp. 1582-1583

"Middlemarch." Leeds Mercury, 14 Dec. 1872, p. 12.

"Middlemarch [A Review]." Leeds Mercury, 14 Dec 1872, p. 12.

"Middlemarch [A Review]." Examiner, 7 Dec 1872, p. 1204-5.

"Literature." Athenaeum, 7 December 1872, pp. 725-726.

"Middlemarch [A Review]." The Saturday Review, 7 December 1872, pp. 733-4.

"Middlemarch [A Review]." Examiner, 7 December 1872, pp. 1204-5.

"Middlemarch: The Eighth and Last Book." Standard, 4 December 1872, p. 5.

"George Eliot's New Novel." Standard [London], 2 Dec 1872, p. 5.

Collins, W. Lucas. "Middlemarch." Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, vol. 112, Dec. 1872, pp. 727–745.

"Middlemarch." Standard [London], 13 Nov 1872, p. 5.

"Middlemarch [A Review]." Aberdeen Journal, 6 November 1872, p. 6

"Middlemarch [A Review]." Aberdeen Journal, 9 October 1872, p. 6.

"Middlemarch.---Book VI." Examiner, 5 Oct 1872, p. 985-6.

"Literature, Science, and Art Gossip." Dundee Courier, 23 Sept. 1872.

"Middlemarch [A Review]." Aberdeen Journal, 21 August 1872, p. 6.

"George Eliot's New Novel." Standard, 8 August 1872, p. 5.

"George Eliot's New Novel." Standard, 8 Aug. 1872, p. 5.

The Contemporary Review, vol. 20, Aug. 1872, pp. 403–422.

"Middlemarch.--- Book V." Examiner, 27 July 1872, p. 743-4.

"Middlemarch [A Review]." Aberdeen Journal, 19 June 1872, p. 6.

"Middlemarch.---Book IV." Examiner, 8 Jun 1872, p. 575-6.

"George Eliot's New Novel." Standard, 3 June 1872, p. 2.

"Middlemarch [A Review]." Athenaeum, 1 June 1872, p. 681.

"The Melancholy of 'Middlemarch.'" The Spectator, 1 June 1872, pp.685-687.

"Middlemarch [A Review]." Aberdeen Journal, 1 May 1872, p. 9

"George Eliot's New Novel." Standard, 29 Apr. 1872, p. 3.

"Middlemarch.--- Book III." Examiner, 30 Mar 1872, p. 333-4.

"Middlemarch [A Review]." Athenaeum, 30 March 1872, p. 393.

"George Eliot's New Story." Standard, 15 Feb. 1872, p. 2.

Examiner, 3 Feb 1872, p. 125-6

"Middlemarch [A Review]." Athenaeum, 3 Feb 1872, p. 137-8

"Middlemarch [A Review]." Daily News London, 29 Jan 1872, p. 5

"Literature." Aberdeen Journal, 24 Jan. 1872, p. 6.

"Middlemarch [A Review]." Aberdeen Journal, 24 Jan 1872, p. 6.

Agnus, Joseph. "George Eliot has adopted a plan with the publication of Middlemarch..." Westminster Review, Jan 1872, p. 131-2.

Main, Alexander. Wise, Witty and Tender Sayings in Prose and Verse, selected from the Works of George Eliot, Edinburgh & London: Blackwood, 1872

"Literature: George Eliot's New Novel." Manchester Guardian, 21 December 1871, p. 7.

"Middlemarch [A Review]." The Observer, 17 December 1871.

Hutton, R. H., "George Eliot's Middlemarch," Spectator, vol. 44, 16 December 1871, pp. 1528-1529.

"George Eliot's New Novel." The Standard, 2 Dec. 1871.

"George Eliot's Middlemarch." Examiner, 2 Dec 1871, p. 1192-3.

"George Eliot's New Story." Daily News London, 29 Nov 1871, p. 5.

"George Eliot's New Story." Daily News, 28 Nov. 1871, p. 5.

"Middlemarch [A Review]." The Daily News, 28 November 1871.

"Multiple News Items." Penny Illustrated Paper, 14 Oct. 1871, p. 227.

"Literary, Scientific, and Artistic Notes." Bucks Herald, 30 Sept. 1871, p. 3.

"George Eliot's Armgart." Nonconformist, 12 Jul. 1871, p. 693.

"Choice Bits." Penny Illustrated Paper, 8 Jul. 1871, p. 7.

"The Legend of Jubal." London Daily News, 5 May 1870, p. 5.

"Multiple News Items." Dundee Courier and Argus, 28 Feb. 1870.

James, H. "About Some of the George Eliot's Novels." Treasury of Literature and the Ladies' Treasury, 2 Aug. 1869, p. 56-63.

"The Magazines for May." Berrows Worcester Journal, 8 May 1869, p. 6.

"Books." The Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine, 1 Apr. 1869, p. 215.

"England." Boston Daily Advertiser, 7 Nov. 1868.

"The Spanish Gypsy." Chicago Tribune, 22 Jul. 1868.

"[A Review of] The Spanish Gypsy, a Poem." Guardian, 24 Jun. 1868, p. 720.

"Varieties." Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 19 June 1868, p. 3.

"The Spanish Gypsy." Chicago Tribune, 14 Jun. 1868.

"[A Review of] The Spanish Gypsy, A Poem." London Express, 30 May 1868, p. 1.

"Literature, Music, Science, and Art." Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 1 May 1868, p. 3.

"News." Dundee Courier and Argus, 21 Apr. 1868.

James, Henry. Review of the Spanish Gypsy. Nation, Vol. 7, 1868, Pgs. 12-14

"The Literary Lounger: The Magazines." Illustrated Times, 22 Jun. 1867, p. 395.

"Literature of the Week." Hampshire Advertiser County Newspaper, 8 June 1867, p. 7.

"Literary Notices." Newcastle Courant, 5 Apr. 1867, p. 3.

"George Eliot." British Quarterly Review, vol. 45, 1867, pp. 141-78

Morley, John. "George Eliot's Novels." Australasian, 3 November 1866, p. 6.

"Felix Holt, the Radical." The North American Review, Oct. 1866, pp. 557–563.

James, Henry. "The Novels of George Eliot." Atlantic Monthly, Oct. 1866, vol. 18, pp. 479–492.

"About Literature and the Arts." Northampton Mercury, 29 Sept. 1866, p. 3.

Lancaster, H. H. "George Eliot's Novels." The North British Review, Sept. 1866, pp. 197–228.

"Felix Holt, the Radical." The Nation, 16 Aug. 1866, pp. 127-128.

James, Henry. "Felix Holt, the Radical [A Review]." The Nation, 16 Aug. 1866, pp. 127–128.

F. C. "Felix Holt, the Radical." Western Times, 14 Aug. 1866, p. 2.

F. C. "Felix Holt, the Radical." Western Times, 14 Aug. 1866, p. 2.

"A Word About the Quinns-- And Books." Edgefield Advertiser, 8 Aug, 1866, p. 2.

F. C. "Felix Holt, the Radical." Western Times, 7 Aug. 1866, p. 6.

"Felix Holt" The Nonconformist, 25 July 1866, p. 606.

"Literature." Derby Mercury, 18 July 1866, p. 6.

"Our Library Table." North Wales Chronicle, 14 July 1866, p. 2.

"Current Literature." Illustrated London News, 14 Jul. 1866, p. 43.

"The Literary Examiner." Examiner, 7 Jul 1866.

"Felix Holt." Pall Mall Gazette, 5 Jul. 1866.

"Felix Holt, the Radical [A Review]."Westminster Review, July 1866, pp. 200-207.

"Felix Holt, the Radical [A Review]." Blackwood's Magazine, July 1866, pp. 94-109

"[A Review of] Felix Holt, the Radical." Trewman's Exeter Flying Post, 27 June 1866, p. 6.

Dallas, E. S. "Felix Holt." The Times, 26 June 1866, p. 6.

"Echoes of the Week." Illustrated London News, 23 Jun. 1866.

Morley, John. "Felix Holt, the Radical." The Saturday Review, 16 June 1866, pp. 722-4

"Literary." Cleveland Daily Leader, 24 May 1866.

"Art and Literary." Stirling Observer and Midland Counties Advertiser, 3 May 1866, p. 3.

Morley, John. "George Eliot's Novels." Macmillan's Magazine, May 1866, pp. 272–279.

"Echoes of the Week." Illustrated London News, 20 May 1865.

"News." Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, 18 Nov. 1864, p. 2.

"Romola [A Review]." Westminster Review, October 1863, pp. 344-52

"Current Literature." Illustrated London News, 18 Jul. 1863, p. 74.

Hutton, R.H. "Romola [A Review]." The Spectator, 18 July 1863.

"Romola [A Review]." Athenaeum, 11 July 1863, p. 46.

"Art and Literary Gossip." Cheshire Observer and General Advertiser, 12 Apr. 1862, p. 2.

"A Batch of Last Year's Novels." Dublin University Magazine, April 1862, pp. 398-401.

"Literature, Science and Art." Woolmer's Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 6 Dec. 1861, p. 3.

"Literature, Science and Art." Woolmer's Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 25 Oct. 1861, p. 3.

"Belles Lettres." Westminster Review, July 1861, pp. 151-152.

The Times, 29 Apr. 1861, p. 12.

"General Literature." Economist, 27 Apr. 1861, pp. 455-457.

"Silas Marner [A Review]." The Saturday Review, 13 April 1861, pp. 369-70

"New Novels." The Athenaeum, 6 April 1861, pp. 464-465.

Mulock, Dinah. To Novelists - And a Novelist. Macmillan's Magazine, April 1861, pp. 441-8

"The Last Number of the Quarterly Review has a Review of the Novels of 'George Eliot.'" Daily Evening Bulletin, 17 Dec. 1860.

Robertson, James Craigie. "Eliot's Novels." The Quarterly Review, Oct. 1860, pp. 469–499.

"The Periodicals-July." The Nonconformist, 11 July 1860, p. 557.

"The Literary Examiner." Examiner, 16 Jun. 1860.

"[A Review of] The Mill and the Floss." Illustrated Times, 2 Jun. 1860, p. 345.

Dallas, E. S. "The Mill on the Floss [A Review]." The Times, 19 May 1860, p. 10.

"[Review of the] Mill on the Floss." Economist, 12 May 1860, p. 509-511.

"The Book of the Month." Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine, 1 May 1860, p. 44-47.

Blackwood's Magazine, vol. 87, May 1860, pp. 490-504

Collins, Rev. W. Lucas. "The Mill on the Floss." Blackwood's Magazine, vol. 87, May 1860, pp. 611–623.

"George Eliot and the Passionate School of Female Novelists." Westmorland Gazette, 21 Apr. 1860, p. 3.

"George Eliot and the Passionate School of Female Novelists." Westmorland Gazette and Kendal Advertiser, 21 Apr. 1860, p. 3.

"Literature." Glasgow Herald, 18 Apr. 1860.

"Literary Review." John Bull and Britannia, 14 Apr. 1860, pp. 235-236.

"George Eliot's New Novel." The Leader and Saturday Analyst, 14 April 1860, pp. 335-36.

"George Eliot's New Romance." Leader, 14 April 1860, pp. 355-6

"The Mill on the Floss [A Review]." The Saturday Review, 7 April 1860, pp. 471-2

"The Mill on the Floss [A Review]." Athenaeum, 7 April 1860, pp. 467-68.

"The Mill on the Floss [A Review]." The Spectator, 7 Apr. 1860, pp. 330-331

"The Mill on the Floss [A Review]." British Controversialist and Literary Magazine, 1860, pp. 412-16

Newby, Thos Cautley . "Adam Bede, Jun." Times, 5 Dec. 1859, p. 7.

Eliot, George. "Adam Bede." Times, 2 Dec. 1859, p. 10.

"Harper & Bros." New York Herald, 5 Aug. 1859.

Eliot, George. "Adam Bede." Times, 16 Apr. 1859, p. 7.

Dallas, E. S. "Adam Bede." The Times, 12 Apr. 1859, p. 5.

Westminster Review [American Edition], vol. 71, Apr. 1859, pp. 269–283.

"Book Notices." Evening Star, 28 Mar. 1859.

"Adam Bede." Economist, 5 Mar. 1859, pp. 256-257.

"Adam Bede [A Review]." The Morning Chronicle, 28 Feb. 1859, p. 6.

Jewsbury, Geraldine. "Adam Bede [A Review]." Athenaeum, 26 Feb. 1859, p. 284.

"Adam Bede." John Bull and Britannia, 12 Feb. 1859, p. 107.

Forster, John. "Adam Bede." Edinburgh Review [American Edition], July 1859, pp. 223-246.

"Scenes of Clerical Life / Adam Bede." British Controversialist and Literary Magazine, 1859, pp. 268-73.

"A New Novelist." Saturday Review, vol. 135, 29 May 1858, pp. 566-7.

"Notices of New Publications." New York Herald, 21 Feb. 1858, p. 1.

Lucas, Samuel. "Recent Novels - Scenes of Clerical Life and White Lies." The Times, 2 Jan. 1858, p. 9.

"Standard Liberal Works, For Sale at the Investigator Office." Boston Investigator, 10 Dec. 1856.

Eliot, George, 1819-1880. "Transatlantic Latter-Day Poetry." The Leader, vol. 7, 7 June 1856, pp. 547-48.

Eliot, George. "Belles Lettres: Three Novels." Westminster Review, LXVI, October 1856, pp. 571-78.

"A Valuable Book." Boston Investigator, 11 Apr. 1855.

"Multiple Classified Advertisements." Boston Investigator, 28 Feb. 1855.

"Multiple Classified Advertisements." Boston Investigator, 3 Jan. 1855.

The Academy (1837)