u/Ser_Erdrick

Hello, I'm /u/Ser_Erdrick and you may remember me from the George Eliot Author Profile! I'm here again this week to discuss Wilkie Collins' No Name. So much drama happened last week and while this week we don't have as much drama we get more intrigue. So, let's recap this a bit

Second Scene, Chapter 1

The setting is York on 23 September 1846, which was a Wednesday (I looked it up!). The Second Scene is told from Captain Wragge's POV and we see him go to the train station where he "acquires" a reward poster for the missing Magdalen which prompts him to search for her. He finds her and confronts her with the poster. She accuses him of only wanting the reward money but he offers to let her stay with him and she accepts.

Chapter 2

They arrive at Wragge's home where he informs the landlady that Magdalen will be taking her empty bedroom. We then meet Mrs. Wragge who is very tall and perhaps mentally slow. Mrs. Wragge tells Magdalen how she and Captain Wragge met and about their homelife.

At tea, Captain Wragge offers to assist Magdalen is she will hear him out. He reveals that he is a professional swindler who has now become too well known. After this, Magdalen will consider his offer overnight.

Chapter 3

The next morning she decides she doesn't trust Wragge but is still determined to recover her lost family inheritance and ultimately decides to ask Wragge for his assistance. Magdalen begins by telling Wragge that her and her sister must make their own way in the world and that she (Magdalen) is determined to become an actress and asks his assitance in getting information on Uncle Michael Vanstone. Wragge and her start to make plans. Magdalen starts practicing her acting and Wragge formualtes how to get her safely from York.

Between the Scenes

Starting in October, Wragge details Magdalen's rise as an actress and how he digs up information on Michael Vanstone. We also learn that Wragge is defrauding Magdalen by underreporting just how much money her performances are bringing in. Magdalen eventually makes over £400 and wants to finish performing and that she has 'new objects in view'. Wragge specualtes what she is up to.

Michael Vanstone dies and his son inherits. Magdalen then turns the attention of her campaign to the son. Wragge, however, is now determined to play both sides.

Third Scene, Chapter One

With Mrs. Wragge in tow, Magdalen established herself in an apartment in Vauxhall across from where Noel Vanstone lives. She follows a servant and finds that they are looking for a railroad guide indicating they will be leaving London soon. That night, Magdalen plots and decides to persue her plans the next day before Noel Vanstone can leave London.

Chapter Two

Magdalen makes sure no one will see her leaving in her disguise and heads over to Noel Vanstone's residence only to find Mrs. Lecount is out and will not be back for a while. With some time to kill, she goes and seeks out her sister who is working as a governess and see her getting abuse not just from her charges but from the people around her and her employer.

She returns to Vauxhall and Mrs. Lecount has returned. Magdalen introduces her self as Miss Garth and that she is coming on behalf of the orphaned Vanstone sisters. Seeing that Noel Vanstone is having a good day and, after expounding on the virtues of the toad in the aquarium, brings the false Miss Garth to speak with Noel Vanstone.

CLIFF HANGER!!

Next we will continue reading all the way up to Scene 4, Chapter 2. Be sure to join us next week as we will find out just what happens! Same Wilkie Collins time! Same Wilkie Collins channel!

Here's the schedule and here is the Marginalia

Hello again. I'm /u/Ser_Erdrick and I'm here to bring you the third week of our exploration into the life, times and people surrounding Mary Anne Evans Marian Evans George Eliot as chronicled by Kathryn Hughes in George Eliot: The Last Victorian.

We are creeping up on our discussion of The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot. Here's a link to the schedule so you know exactly what sections are being read and when and when we'll start The Mill on the Floss.

And here's the link to the Marginalia for any random thoughts\quotes\snark or whatever else you'd like to. Just be sure to mark any spoilers there!

Chapter Seven - 'A Man of Heart and Conscience' Meeting Mr. Lewes (1852 - 1854)

Marian takes a break from editing the Westminster Review due to it wearing down on her and visits old friends to mentally recharge. For a brief period she lives with her recently widowed sister and her brood of six children but leaves again for London which sparks barbs between her and her brother Isaac. Marian will, instead of providing direct care, will send monetary assistance when she can. However, money will be short as Marian leaves the Westminster and decides to go freelance and leaves Chapman's house.

The chapter then gives us a long flashback where we learn how Marian learned of George Henry Lewes came to become acquainted first with Lewes' writing and then later the man himself. We then get a biographical sketch of Lewes. Eventually the couple, obviously in love, leave for the continent in July of 1854.

Chapter Eight - 'I Don't Think She Is Mad' Exile (1854 - 1856)

Marian and Lewes leave England and make their way across Europe and they make their way to what is now Germany so Lewes can work on his biography of Goethe. However, back at home, Marian being unmarried and Lewes married to another woman, leaves scandal and gossip behind them in England. While there, Marian continues to write sporadic articles and assists Lewes in translating and does works on translating Baruch Spinoza's Ethics (which will ultimately go unpublished until 1981!).

They return home where Marian continues her works on Spinoza while Lewes works on his Goethe biography. Marian, while opening living with Lewes, tightly controls who they interact with and begins to review books (Erdrick's note: 166 of them in a two year period or a little over three books over every two week period!) and begins to consider what type of fiction she herself will want to write. The chapter also chronicles the difficulties, especially in the case of Marian, in their personal lives.

Next week we will be back as we discuss chapters 9 & 10. Hope to see you there!

The results are in and, after a quick run off poll, we are pleased to announce that the winner is....

George Eliot (22 November 1819 – 22 December 1880)

We will be reading both:

George Eliot: The Last Victorian by Kathryn Hughes

and

The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot

in the coming months, so get your copies ordered, reserved or put on a wish list now! The specifics and a full schedule will be posted in the next few days/weeks.

If anyone is interested, George Eliot was tied with Jane Austen thus necessitating the need to have a quick run off poll.

Will you be joining us as we explore the life of Mary Ann Evans George Eliot and one of her novels?

Welcome back to another week at the Vanity Fair! Let's jump in and see what the puppet show at Vanity Fair has to show us this week, shall we?

Chapter 43 - In Which the Reader Has to Double the Cape

In this chapter Major Dobbin gets pestered to marry and ends with his receiving a letter from his One True Love (tm) Amelia stating that she has married a curate. He requests leave to return to England.

Chapter 44 - A Roundabout Chapter Between London and Hampshire

In this chapter we see how Becky has ingratiated herself with the new Sir Pitt and we see her (lack of) parenting skills. We also see she has a new "friend" in Lord Steyne, in whose company she spends a lot of time. This causes the servants to start gossiping.

Chapter 45 - Between Hampshire and London

In this chapter we see some of Sir Pitt's efforts to restore the stained reputation of his family. We see a rivalry and dislike begin to brew between Becky and Lady Jane Pitt. We also see how Becky and her husband begin to drift apart.

Chapter 46 - Struggles and Trials

This chapter shows us the trials and tribulations that Amelia Osborne endures in trying to raise her son amidst her parents financial struggles.

Chapter 47 - Gaunt House

In this chapter Thackeray the narrator tells us what they have heard about Lord Steyne, who may or may not be having an affair with Becky.

Chapter 48 - In Which the Reader is Introduced to the Very Best of Company

In this chapter Becky is presented at the Royal Court (and what happens after)! Looks like she's pulled herself up by her corset stays very far indeed.

Chapter 49 - In Which We Enjoy Three Courses and a Dessert

In this chapter we get a glimpse into the home life of Lord and Lady Steyne and family. We also see how the Steynes interact with Mr. & Mrs. Rawdon Crawley in society.

Chapter 50 - Contains a Vulgar Incident

In this chapter we see how Amelia tries to earn an income and fails at it and she makes the hard decision to consign the care of Little Georgy to Mr. Osborne.

Be sure to join us next week as we continue at the Vanity Fair with chapters 51 through 56!

Full schedule can be found here

Marginalia can be found here