Critical Miscellanies (Vol. 3 of 3), Essay 4: The Life of George Eliot

The essay challenges intrusive habits of literary biography and records the subject's dislike of posthumous exposure of private papers, praising an editor who assembles a life from letters and journals with minimal authorial intrusions to create a coherent, quasi-autobiographical narrative. It evaluates the subject's correspondence as earnest, restrained, and less gossipy or fluent than celebrated letter-writers while containing memorable moral reflections. The critic questions the necessity of some travel material, warns against overlong Lives, and offers comparative observations on biographical methods and editorial discretion, arguing for economy and respect when shaping a writer's posthumous reputation.