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Silas Marner

29 replies

Iturnedmyfaceaway · 01/01/2020 20:14

I’ve just finished reading this for the first time. It’s quite amazing and I feel as though I’ve discovered a new friend.

Are there any other Silas Marner fans out there? Apparently it was George Eliot’s own favourite.

OP posts:
percheron67 · 01/01/2020 20:27

I am going to read it after reading your comments!

Coldhandscoldheart · 01/01/2020 20:30

Love it. I tried The Mill on the floss thinking I would like that too, and thought it was dreadful, the people were awful nd it was wet and depressing.
I think Silas Marner has a layer of cheerfulness and redemption.

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Iturnedmyfaceaway · 01/01/2020 20:34

Please do. This edition is lovely: penguin English library (it’s pink). A great edition. There are no spoilers/no introduction. You just dive straight in. Then at the end there are letters from her publisher after he first saw the manuscript (lucky man) and a couple of contemporary reviews which I found very moving.

Silas Marner
OP posts:
GinaCarbonara · 01/01/2020 21:08

Oh I love love Silas Marner, it's my favourite by George Eliot. It always leaves me in a good mood after reading it

JoeGargery · 01/01/2020 21:09

Me! So great to discover really good books, isn’t it?

Beerincomechampagnetastes · 01/01/2020 21:11

Star love Silas ❤️ It’s a wonderful discovery the first time you read it.

Sinkingfeeling · 01/01/2020 21:14

I love it too, I’m a huge George Eliot fan and this one is my favourite. I’ve never met anyone else IRL who has read it though. Smile

IRememberSoIDo · 01/01/2020 21:14

Aw we studied this in school. It was one of the few books on any of the syllabus' that I absolutely loved.

YourOpinionIsNoted · 01/01/2020 21:15

Oh I love Silas Marner. "Eppie in the coal hole!" So cute. I taught it once at GCSE, comparing it to King Lear (presentation of fatherhood). Good times.

I wanted to call our puppy Eppie but DH vetoed in case people thought it was a piss take of epilepsy - he didn't want to be telling "Eppie!" at a disappearing dog in the park Grin.

Kitkatforchristmasdinner · 01/01/2020 21:19

Coldhands nooo, The Mill on the Floss is not dreadful. I did it for A level and read it for fun in adulthood.

Bluerussian · 01/01/2020 21:24

Yes, I read it a couple of times years ago as well as at school. I also saw a TV dramatisation with Ben Kingsley as Silas and, I think it was, Patsy Kensit as Eppy as a young woman. Jenny Agutter played her 'real' father's wife and Angela Pleasance was her mother, only seen at the beginning. It was so good, I'd gladly watch it again.

Around 1998 I saw it on stage at a theatre in Richmond (?Orange Tree).

Glad you're enjoying the book.

LayAllYourLoveOnMe · 01/01/2020 21:25

Spoiler alerts needed here as the story is fabulous

Solasum · 01/01/2020 21:27

The scene when he shuts his shutters and draws forth his gold is one of the most evocative of any book I have read. Must revisit

YourOpinionIsNoted · 01/01/2020 21:34

Agreed, must re-read. Little Eppie (Eppy?) tugging at her cold wet boots in front of the fire just tugs at my heart strings.

Igmum · 01/01/2020 22:02

One of my favourite books! Thanks OP, must re-read Grin

Bluerussian · 02/01/2020 02:25

I can't remember whether it's 'Eppy' or 'Eppie', YourOpinion. The op who is currently reading the book will no doubt enlighten us. Whichever, it's short for 'Hepzibah'.

I'm going to look to see if I can find the excellent TV dramatisation I mentioned, it may be available on something like Netflix or Prime. It was so well done.

Bluerussian · 02/01/2020 02:27

Found it on Youtube:

VashtaNerada · 02/01/2020 02:32

Love Silas Marner! So many details have stayed with me years after reading it. Eppie “talking to her little boot” or going in the coal hole Smile

FeigningHorror · 02/01/2020 02:33

It’s my least favourite GE, I must say, apart from Romola.

Gone2far · 02/01/2020 16:05

I love Silas Marner. GE was such a wise writer, with such insight into human nature. Her portrayal of the young Eppie is so enchanting, and the part where she speaks to her real father is so well done.
I also love Middlemarch, but don't like Mill on the Floss at all. Romola is sitting , unread, on my kindle. A long time ago I vowed to read it, and never managed to.

VeniceBeach · 03/01/2020 00:24

I studied Silas Marner at school and have very fond memories! We loved Eppie in the coal hole as well Smile

My favourite quote which I highlighted in my GCSE copy:

“In old days there were angels who came and took men by the hand and led them away from the city of destruction. We see no white-winged angels now. But yet men are led away from threatening destruction: a hand is put into theirs, which leads them forth gently towards a calm and bright land, so that they look no more backward; and the hand may be a little child's.”

Bowerbird5 · 03/01/2020 00:29

Yes, we read it at school when I was about 15/16. Lots of discussion. We had a very good English teacher who liked to challenge us. Loved it.

In 6th form I had a different teacher and she gave us “Bury me in my Boots” very thought provoking.

MrsFezziwig · 03/01/2020 00:30

Thanks Bluerussian - I struggled a bit with the actual novel so have saved the YouTube dramatisation to watch.

maidenover · 03/01/2020 00:36

I absolutely loved this book, haven’t read it for years though and can’t really remember why I loved it so much. I must re-read.

Deadringer · 03/01/2020 00:36

I read it in school and loved it, must read it again. I loved the mill on the floss too though, and the poor little wench.Sad