This study considers George Eliot's individual stand on early feminist issues, why she lived in sin but defended marriage, and was claimed by opposing political parties as their particular champion. The book analyzes the novels in relations to Eliot's own essays, letters and poetry, and with regard to extracts from contemporary feminist journals, parliamentary speeches, newspapers and magazines. It produces a picture of Victorian concerns and conflicts, largely from the perspective of the time. There are also chapters on Eliot's personal life, and the critical reception her work has received since its publication.