From the Preface.
TO the admirers of "George Eliot" no apology will be needed for this attempt to throw light upon her writings by identifying her characters with living persons of whom she had knowledge, and her descriptions of places and scenery with portions of that Midland tract where she spent her youth and early womanhood.
More than most writers of fiction, "George Eliot" took her characters and incidents from actual life, and set them amid scenes with which she herself was familiar and loved; and to the student of her works anything that assists him in testing the fidelity with which she presented the former and pictured the latter, must be of lasting interest. It is in that belief that this volume is given to the public; and it is in the humble capacity of guide that the writer presents himself. As much as possible the book is a compilation from "George Eliot's" own works: the plan adopted being to allow the gifted authoress wherever possible to speak for herself, in her own inimitable language and style. My chief function has been to point out the objects of interest: it is "George Eliot" who addresses the audience.