The Mill on the Floss. By George Eliot. Illustrated by Herbert Tauss. Illustrated Edition. Franklin Library. Franklin Center, 1981.

Mary Ann Evans, better known by her pen name George Eliot, was one of the most popular authors of the Victoria era. Today she is primarily known for her novels Middlemarch and Romola, but during the 19th century, readers equally admired her many other works, including her poetry. A practitioner of literary realism, her writings are defined by their sense of place, their setting descriptions, and their keen psychological insights. The Mill on the Floss epitomizes these qualities. First published in 1860, it describes the lives of the Tullivers who grow up as miller’s children on the River Floss. The landscape and psychologies of the characters play out over decades, brilliantly rendering a drama of place, family, acceptance, and duty. It is one of Eliot’s best novels. This illustrated edition also provides full-page illustrations by Herbert Tauss, bringing the characters into vivid form.

This illustrated edition is in near-fine condition. In the original faux leather, elaborately gilt stamped. Binding near-fine with only small lines to front board and minor bumping to bottom corners. Raised bands. Gilt edges. Text block near-fine with only minor scuffing to gilt edges. Decorated endpapers. Tauss illustrations superb.

A near-fine illustrated edition of Mill on the Floss.