Nature's Lady by George Eliot (1884)
Nature's Lady is a novel by George Eliot, first published in 1876. It tells the story of a young woman, Mary Garth, who is determined to make her own way in the world despite the obstacles she faces. Mary is the daughter of a poor country doctor, and she is determined to make something of herself. She is intelligent and hardworking, and she is determined to make a success of her life. She is also a romantic, and she dreams of finding true love. When Mary meets the wealthy and handsome Arthur Donnithorne, she is instantly smitten. But Arthur is engaged to another woman, and Mary must learn to accept her place in his life. Meanwhile, Mary's father is struggling to make ends meet, and Mary must find a way to help him. She takes a job as a governess, and she soon finds herself in a difficult situation. The novel follows Mary as she navigates the complexities of life and love, and as she learns to accept her place in the world. Along the way, she discovers the true meaning of happiness and fulfillment.
By George Eliot · First published 1884 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction · 236 words
First lines
Three years she grew in sun and shower, Then Nature said, "A lovelier flower On earth was never sown; This child I to myself will take, She shall be mine, and I will make A lady of my own.
"Myself will to my darling be Both law and impulse: and with me The Girl, in rock and plain, In earth and heaven, in glade and bower, Shall feel an overseeing power To kindle or restrain.
"She shall be sportive as the fawn That wild with glee across the lawn Or up the mountain springs; And hers shall be the breathing balm, And hers the silence and the calm, Of mute insensate things.
What this Textopian page supports
Nature's Lady is listed on Textopian as a short story by George Eliot, dated 1884 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: George Eliot
- Date: 1884 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 236 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for Nature's Lady by George Eliot
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Nature's Lady?
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- Where does Realistic Fiction first become important in the reading?
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- The Half Brothers by Elizabeth Gaskell
Genres
- Realistic Fiction — The book follows the life of a woman in a realistic setting, exploring themes of love, family, and society.
- Romance — The book follows the romantic relationships of the protagonist, exploring themes of love and heartbreak.
- Historical Fiction — The book is set in a specific time period and explores the social and cultural norms of the era.
- Literary Fiction — The book is written in a literary style, exploring themes of morality and human nature.
Tags
19th century · English poetry · balm · bend · born · bower · breathing · calm · child · dance · darling · ear