Objects

Explore highlights from the George Eliot collections

Group of eight books on a black background.

First editions of George Eliot’s books

The library has many first editions of Eliot’s works published by Blackwood, her publisher and editions published by other companies including versions produced abroad
Mannequin displaying a blue floor length silk dress with long sleeves. The bodice has a square shaped black velvet trim. There is black bead trim round the neck following a black velvet trim. There is black velvet trim and lace at the wrists. There are buttons along the front to the waist.

Dress worn by George Eliot

As George Eliot made more money from her writing, she was able to afford more expensive clothing
Metal bell with wooden handle.

Bell from Eliot’s school in Coventry

This school bell is thought to be from Nantglyn School which was at 29 Warwick Row, Coventry
Black and white photograph of a man. The cheeks have been tinted pink. He has a high white collar, white shirt, black necktie and black jacket. The photograph is in an oval frame with a gold mount. It is in a red case.

Daguerrotype portrait of Charles Bray

This is a photograph of Charles Bray, a friend of George Eliot
Open scrapbook. On the right hand side invitations and a programme for the George Eliot Fellowship Annual Dinner are stuck on the page with the date 1959 written onto the page. The left hand side has newspaper articles stuck onto the page

George Eliot Fellowship scrapbooks

The George Eliot Fellowship was started by A F Cross in 1930 to commemorate and raise the profile of Eliot as a writer and to promote the study and research into her life and work
A supper set made up of one cream coloured boat shaped tureen on a stand and four dishes. All have lids decorated with a brown central circular leaf design and flowers on the handles.

Supper Set owned by George Eliot

This supper set is thought to be the property of George Eliot
Circular watercolour painting. It is surrounded by a ornate gold frame. The painting shows a man from the side. He is reading a book with the right side of his chin resting on his right hand. He has a red head covering on top of which is a green leaf crown. He wears a red tabard with green sleeves.

Dante by Sir Frederick Burton, gift to George Eliot

Dante by Sir Frederick Burton, in original frame
Two small cream coloured kid leather boots with silk cream bows near to the toe. They have a small heel. The sides have a darker band of smocking to allow easier fitting.

Boots belonging to George Eliot

These delicate ankle boots are thought to have belonged to George Eliot
A white jug with a handle on the right hand side. The jug is covered in blue lines.

Barley Jug belonging to Robert Evans

This barley jug belonged to George Eliot’s father, Robert Evans
Open book showing the inner pages. The right hand page has the following text. The Life of Jesus, critically examined by Dr David Friedrich Strauss. Translated from the fourth German edition.

Sara Hennell’s copy of ‘Das Leben Jesu’ by Strauss

George Eliot translated Das Leben Jesu by Friedrich Strauss from German into English

George Eliot by Francois D’Albert-Durade

From 1849 to 1850 George Eliot stayed with the Durade family in their home in Geneva, Switzerland
Black and white photograph showing a church and churchyard. Surrounded by a green/brown mount. At the top are the words, Coton Church (Shepperton). Underneath the photograph is a quote from George Eliot's book, Scenes of Clerical Life. The signature of the photographer, Speight is shown underneath.

Photographs of ‘George Eliot country’ by Speight

Included in the amazing collection of postcards and photographs of places associated with Eliot, the library holds a special set of photographs taken by Clare Speight, a local photographer who had several shops in Warwickshire including Nuneaton
Page from a music manuscript. Shows lines with musical notes.

Music book owned by George Eliot

This hardback music book was owned by George Eliot
Brown book cover. Title, George Eliot, Her early home is typed in gold within a green label on the front.

George Eliot, her early home, Illustrated by Patty Townsend

This is one of the most popular items in the library collection and is illustrated by several artists including Patty Townsend a local artist who was married to a wealthy businessman Fielding Johnson
Handwritten letter

Letter from George Eliot to Mary Sibree

This letter written by Eliot in 1841 to Mary Sibree, a Coventry friend, gives us an early insight into Eliot’s character; Eliot is both apologetic and humorous