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[Discussion 4 of 6] Classic Author Profile || The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot || Book 3: Ch. 9 - Book 5: Ch. 6

Hello and welcome to week four of the Classic Author Profile! Lots of things happened this week so let's get into it!

Book III - The Downfall

Ch. 9 - An Item Added to the Family Register

In this chapter, Tulliver takes the position as manager of the mill he used to own but swears to never forgive Mr. Wakem and makes his son vow the same,

Book IV - The Valley of Humiliation

Chapter 1 - A Variation of Protestantism Unknown to Bossuet

In this chapter, our unnamed narrator muses on the values of the characters especially when it comes to religion.

Chapter 2 - The Torn Nest Is Pierced by the Thorns

In this chapter we see how the Tullivers adapt to their new lower financial station in life and how they struggle.

Chapter 3 - A Voice from the Past

In this chapter, Bob Jakin visits and brings Maggie several books, including The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis which influences Maggie greatly.

Book V - Wheats and Tares

Chapter 1 - In the Red Deeps

In this chapter Maggie and Philip Wakem secretly meet despite knowing it would be opposed by her father and tries to avoid seeing Philip further but he persuades her otherwise.

Chapter 2 - Aunt Glegg Learns the Breadth of Bob's Thumb

In this chapter we see how Tom has taken it upon himself to work hard and live frugally in order to save up money to help his father pay his debts. We see how he even turns to speculation in order to do so.

Chapter 3 - The Wavering Balance

Maggie tries to break off seeing Philip but cannot do so, especially after he offers to help educate her and bring her books.

Chapter 4 - Another Love-Scene

Ten months have passed and Maggie and Philip have grown even closer than before even declaring their love for each other but Maggie states she cannot marry him because she thinks she'd be betraying her father and brother by doing so.

Chapter 5 - The Cloven Tree

In this chapter Tom discovers, with Mrs. Pullet's help that Maggie and Philip have been seeing each other in the woods and Tom confronts Maggie about it.

Chapter 6 - The Hard-Won Triumph

In this chapter we see that Tom's speculation has paid off and that he has now raised enough money to pay the money that his father owes.

Next week we will be discussing Book 5, Chapter 7 all the way through Book 6, Chapter 9. Hope to see you there!

Here's the schedule and here's the marginalia.

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u/Ser_Erdrick — 3 days ago
▲ 9 r/bookclub

[Discussion 2/6] | Bonus Book - The Aeneid by Virgil | Books 3 & 4

Welcome to the second of six discussions of Virgil's The Aeneid. This week we will be discussing the third and fourth books of The Aeneid. I found some cool summaries of each books in John Dryden's translation so I'll use those instead of trying to make my own.

THE THIRD BOOK OF THE ÆNEID

The Argument.—

Æneas proceeds in his relation: he gives an account of the fleet with which he sail’d, and the success of his first voyage to Thrace. From thence he directs his course to Delos, and asks the oracle what place the gods had appointed for his habitation. By a mistake of the oracle’s answer, he settles in Crete; his household gods give him the true sense of the oracle, in a dream. He follows their advice, and makes the best of his way for Italy. He is cast on several shores, and meets with very surprising adventures, till at length he lands on Sicily, where his father Anchises dies. This is the place which he was sailing from, when the tempest rose, and threw him upon the Carthaginian coast.

THE FOURTH BOOK OF THE ÆNEID

The Argument.—

Dido discovers to her sister her passion for Æneas, and her thoughts of marrying him. She prepares a hunting match for his entertainment Juno, by Venus’s consent, raises a storm, which separates the hunters, and drives Æneas and Dido into the same cave, where their marriage is suppos’d to be completed. Jupiter dispatches Mercury to Æneas, to warn him from Carthage. Æneas secretly prepares for his voyage. Dido finds out his design, and, to put a stop to it, makes use of her own and her sister’s entreaties, and discovers all the variety of passions that are incident to a neglected lover. When nothing would prevail upon him, she contrives her own death, with which this book concludes.

Since this is originally a Latin text, I'll be using the Latin forms of everyone's names (Odysseus becomes Ulysses in Latin, etc.) If you're unfamiliar with the Roman names for the gods, have no fear, I found a cool chart which you can use as a guide. It can be found here. Also, here's the schedule and here's the marginalia.

Join us next week as we discuss the fifth and six books of Virgil's epic!

u/Ser_Erdrick — 9 days ago
▲ 10 r/bookclub

[Discussion 5/8] Mod Pick | No Name by Wilkie Collins | Scene 4, Chapter 3 through Scene 4, Chapter 8

Hello and welcome back to our fifth discussion of Wilkie Collins' No Name! As they say in Hollywood, let's cut to the chase!

Chapter 3

In this chapter, Magdalen, in her guise as Miss Bygrave, engineers her first encounter with Noel Vanstone and keeps arranging "accidental" meetings. Meanwhile, Mrs. Lecount's suspicions are aroused.

Chapter 4

In this chapter, Noel and Magdalen continue to accidentally "bump" into each other and Noel has become increasingly fascinated with Magdalen under her false name but Mrs. Lecount watches their interactions with increasing suspicion.

Chapter 5

In this chapter, Noel begins to actively seek out Magdalen. Behind the scenes, Wragge carefully manages the deception.

Chapter 6

In this chapter, Mrs. Lecount begins to investigate Magdalen and is convinced that she is lying about her identity. She expresses her concerns to Noel and even gives him a note with description of Magdalen's identifying features.

Chapter 7

In this chapter, Wragge tells Magdalen it is now time to get Noel to propose marriage to her and makes plans. Noel comes to visit and gives Wragge the note describing the moles on Magdalen's neck. He quickly goes and applies makeup to Magdalen to hide them. Wragge then tries to cast doubt on the sanity of Mrs. Lecount. At the end of the chapter, Noel has made an offer of marriage!

Chapter 8

In this chapter, Wragge and, surprisingly, Noel conspire to get Mrs. Lecount out of the way by means of a false letter from her brother's doctor in Zurich.

With this, Wookie Wilkie Collins leaves us on yet another cliffhanger!

Next we will continue reading all the way up to end of Scene Four including all the material in the 'Between the Scenes' sections. 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

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u/Ser_Erdrick — 1 month ago
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[Discussion 3/8] Mod Pick | No Name by Wilkie Collins | Scene 2, Chapter 1 through Scene 3, Chapter 2

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

u/Ser_Erdrick — 2 months ago
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[Discussion 3 of 6] Classic Author Profile - George Eliot: The Last Victorian | Chapters 7 & 8

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!

u/Ser_Erdrick — 2 months ago
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[Discussion 2 of 6] Classic Author Profile - George Eliot: The Last Victorian | Chapters 4, 5 & 6

Hello everyone! I'm /u/Ser_Erdrick and welcome to week two of our discussions on George Eliot: The Last Victorian by Kathryn Hughes. This week we are continuing our discussion of the biography before we read 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 Four: 'I Fall Not in Love With Everyone' The Rosehill Years (1841-1849)

Mary Ann now spends all of her free time with the more radical and freethinking Bray family who have an open marriage. Throughout this period Mary Ann slowly thaws from being the chilly saint to a much more approachable advice giver and gets emotionally attached to unavailable men. It is also during this time she publishes her first major work, a translation of The Life of Jesus, Critically Examined by the Protestant theologian David Strauss and it ends up being the catalyst for the start of her later vocation of journalist. During this time her friendship to Maria Lewis and Sara Hennell grew. In March of 1845, a young picture restorer proposed to Mary Ann but she turns it down. There are other attempts to matchmake her that also end in failure.

Chapter Five: 'The Land of Duty and Affection' Coventry, Geneva and London (1849-1851)

The end of the 1840s were a period of of political upheaval and for Mary Ann. As his health declined, Mary Ann was forced into the role of nursemaid for a dying father, which ended up being a heavy burden for her. Despite being the caretaker she got next to nothing in the will and even had her favorite books given away.

During this time as caretaker she has another emotional fling with Anthony Froude of whom she gave a glowing review of his novel The Nemesis of Faith.

Six days after the burial, she leaves for Geneva with the Brays. Froude was prepared to join them but got cold feet at the last moment seemingly wanting to avoid being matchmade with Mary Ann.

At Geneva, she observes the people there and begins writing her observations down. Also while there she starts to having a falling out with the Brays but falls in with the D'Albert Durade family. Yet another emotional affair with a married man. They travel together to Paris and then to London and he visits her after she returned home.

Upon her return home she began to realize she still needed a means to support herself as her "inheritence" wasn't enough to live on. During this time the publisher Robert Chapman approached her to write an article on 'The Progress of the Intellect' by Robert Markay for 'The Westminster Review'. After writing this she traveled to London to and there she met the author Eliza Lynn and realized it was possible to support herself as a writer. With this she changed the way she spelled her name from the common Mary Ann to the less common Marian.

Chapter Six: 'The Most Important Means of Enlightenment' Life at the Westminster Review (1851-1852)

When she moved to London in January of 1851, Marian moved in with Chapman at the Strand and quickly began both an intellectual and physical relationship with Chapman. This quickly led to jealousy between Chapman's wife and already established mistress. It was during this time that Chapman bought the Westminster Review and made Marian the uncredited "assistant" editor and eventually took special responsibility for the book review section. Under her editorship, the Westminster Review reestablished itself critically but not financially. It was here she first became acquainted with her future lover and romantic partner George Henry Lewes.

She ends up briefly in a relationship with a Herbert Spencer before it was broken off by him reputedly due to his belief that beauty is equal to goodness and that Marian was not attractive. He eventually ended up having a collapse into hypochondria around the same Marian begins a long and fulfilling relationship with Lewes.

I'll be back next week for Chapters 7 & 8. Hope to see you there!

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u/Ser_Erdrick — 2 months ago
▲ 8 r/bookclub

[Marginalia] Classic Author Profile - George Eliot: The Last Victorian and The Mill on the Floss

Hello and welcome to the marginalia post for both George Eliot: The Last Victorian and The Mill on the Floss. Here you post any thoughts/comments/snark/whatever you'd like as you read along but please be sure to indicate spoilers (e.g., "spoilers for chapter 6" and/or use the spoiler tag > ! spoiler text ! < without the spaces between symbols so >!your text is hidden like this!<).

Link to the schedule

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u/Ser_Erdrick — 2 months ago
▲ 18 r/bookclub

[Schedule] Classic Author Profile - George Eliot: The Last Victorian &amp; The Mill on the Floss

We are pleased to finally bring you the schedules for both George Eliot: The Last Victorian by Kathryn Hughes and The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot! We will be kicking off with reading George Eliot: The Last Victorian by Kathryn Hughes in six parts followed by The Mill on the Floss, also in six parts.

Schedules

George Eliot: The Last Victorian by Kathryn Hughes

Week 1 - 15 June - Chapters 1 - 3 - /u/Less_Tumbleweed_3217

Week 2 - 22 June - Chapters 4 - 6 - /u/Ser_Erdrick

Week 3 - 29 June - Chapters 7 - 8 - /u/Ser_Erdrick

Week 4 - 6 July - Chapters 9 - 10 - /u/ColaRed

Week 5 - 13 July - Chapters 11 - 13 - /u/tomesandtea

Week 6 - 20 July - Chapters 14 - Epilogue (End) - /u/ColaRed

The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot

Week 7 - 27 July - Book 1, Chapter 1 to Book 1, Chapter 8 - /u/nicehotcupoftea

Week 8 - 3 August - Book 1, Chapter 9 to Book 2, Chapter 4 - /u/tomesandtea

Week 9 - 10 August - Book 2, Chapter 5 to Book 3, Chapter 8 - /u/lazylittlelady

Week 10 - 17 Auguest - Book 3, Chapter 9 to Book 5, Chapter 6 - /u/Ser_Erdrick

Week 11 - 24 August - Book 5, Chapter 7 to Book 6, Chapter 9 - /u/Less_Tumbleweed3217

Week 12 - 31 August - Book 6, Chapter 10 to End - /u/lazylittlelady

The Marginalia link will go here here

Will you be joining /u/ColaRed, /u/lazylittlelady, /u/Less_Tumbleweed_3217, /u/nicehotcupoftea. /u/tomesandtea and myself as we explore the life and a work of George Eliot?

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u/Ser_Erdrick — 3 months ago
▲ 37 r/bookclub

[Announcement] Classic Author Profile - We have a winner!

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?

u/Ser_Erdrick — 3 months ago
▲ 18 r/bookclub

[Announcement] Reminder to Vote - 24 Hours Remain

Good <insert part of the day it currently is for you>!

There are now 24 hours left to vote in the next Author Spotlight! Make sure to vote for any and all of the books and authors, especially your favorites, that you'd like to see featured!

So, if you'd like to see any of the suggested book and biography combos featured, make sure to upvote which ever ones you'd like to see read!

Now, get out there and Upvote! Upvote! Upvote! 📚

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u/Ser_Erdrick — 3 months ago
▲ 23 r/bookclub

[VOTE] Author Profile - Classic Authors | Author Biography and Selected Work Combo 2026 Edition

Hello book lovers! We are pleased to bring you the 2026 edition of the Author Profile! Last Year Mr. Edgar Allen Poe won and we read a biography and some selected works of his and it ended up being quite popular so we've decided to run it again for this upcoming summer (or winter for our friends in the Southern Hemisphere)!

Down in the comments will be a list of classic authors and included with with each author will be one of their works and a biography. For the winner we will read both the biography of the chosen author and the accompanying work.

Upvote for any and all combinations you'd like to see run on /r/bookclub this summer.

Please note, there is no obligation to read both but there may be spoilers as free discussion between both the biography and the book is encouraged.

Voting will be open for 72 hours and the results will be announced on

(Comments and questions about the selections and or the author profile project are welcomed and encouraged if you have any!)

Happy reading upvoting! 📚

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u/Ser_Erdrick — 3 months ago
▲ 10 r/bookclub

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

u/Ser_Erdrick — 4 months ago