Rome Tearne’s Secret Weapon

“If life had no love in it. What else was there for Maggie?”

Page turners are not new. My favourite, a riveting tale of female oppression and forbidden love, was written in 1860. Mill on the Floss is George Eliot’s most autobiographical novel and is a sweeping, passionate drama. I first read the book as a teenager and loved it.

Then this year, I picked it up again. The story remains as I remembered it, powerful and compelling. The cast of characters, including the lovely dark-eyed Maggie Tulliver, head-strong and clever, her insensitive brother Tom, and her foolish but loving father, returned to me like long-lost friends, still vivid after all these years. And then of course there’s Stephen Guest, the flawed hero who pushes the narrative to its tragic conclusion. But I won’t spoil the story. Read it and see for yourself. There are vistas of Constable countryside, beautifully described in language that is full of light and movement.

Just pause for moment on the opening paragraph and you’ll see what I mean. It’s the difference between drinking cheap plonk, and a vintage wine.