Fiction, Classic: Silas Marner.

THE BARE FACTS
Title: Silas Marner
Author: George Eliot (a pen name of Mary Ann Evans)
Publisher: Signet Classic Date of Publication: 1861 (this edition, 1981)
Pages: 192
Grade That Means Nothing Coming From Me: B+

SO BASICALLY, IT’S ABOUT…
A pathetic miser finds a golden-haired toddler on his doorstep, and learns to let love into his heart.

WHY’D YOU WANNA READ THAT?
A mainstay of the "Books Clair Brought Into the Relationship" section of our personal library, I had long had a passing familiarity with the basics of the plot. So one day, I just made the executive decision that I was going to read it. Hey, it happens sometimes.

AND HOW’D THAT WORK OUT FOR YOU?
Pretty well. Books like this always start off a little shaky, because the language is so arch and roundabout. But our author is crafty, and right from the beginning catches you off guard by throwing in little bits of first-person narration. Eliot knows that she's a storyteller, and that she's anticipating your reaction to the characters in her tale. She actually sounds a tiny bit defensive, and it's the sensation that you're psychically conversing with the author that helps get you through the dense language early on. And she's smart to season the story lightly with this technique. It's just your omniscient narrator, popping in every now and then to see how you're enjoying the meal.

I suppose there could have been a Spoiler Alert up by the synopsis, but even the back cover of my paperback copy of Silas Marner explains how the miserly old weaver is redeemed through the love of a child he finds on his doorstep. This is not an insignificant giveaway. In fact, this is one of the only things that happens in the entire book. This is not a book predicated on action. In fact, the bulk of the novel is devoted to examining various characters' state of mind, and more importantly, how they got that way. Eliot is determined that you not judge anyone prematurely, and indeed, even the least principled person in town is dutifully explained, if not justified.

Here's a surprise: for a book called Silas Marner, there's not so much of our title character, Silas Marner. Throughout much of the book, his story dovetails with that of the local squire, Godfrey Cass, with side trips to the psyches of Godfrey's beloved Nancy, his ne'er-do-well brother, and various neighbors and notable figures in the town of Raveloe. Where the heck is Silas? I spent several chapters missing the title character. And I'm torn on this, because he's a pretty dour fellow for most of the book. It's Eliot's deep sympathy for the guy that generates appreciation for the character. And I can't help but wonder if she knew that too much of him would make him much less appealing. I mean, after seeing what a wretch Godfrey Cass is, you can't help but admire Silas. Oooh, she's a clever one, that George Eliot.

SHOULD I READ THIS?
If you’re someone who loved to have books assigned to you in school, this will be right up your alley. If not, this book might surprise you, since it is shorter and leaner than you might expect from something you’d find on an English literature syllabus.

Reviewed by: Shane Wilson.
Shane Wilson is a writer and contributing editor to The Green Room.