Book excerpt: Mary Ann Evans (1819 - 1880) was an English novelist who wrote under her pen name George Eliot to escape the stereotype of women's writing being limited to lighthearted romances. She wrote seven novels, including The Mill On The Floss, Middlemarch, and Silas Marner, and she became one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. As well as her classic novels, she also wrote exceptional poetry which demonstrated her natural talent at writing prose and rhyme that displayed realism and psychological insight. This comprehensive collection of George Eliots poetry includes Self And Life, Bright, O Bright Fedalma, Brother And Sister, God Needs Antonio (Stradivarius), The Choir Invisible, Two Lovers, I Grant You Ample Leave, The Radiant Dark, Blue Wings, How Lisa Loved The King, The Legend Of Jubal, A Minor Prophet, Arion, A College Breakfast Party, The Death Of Moses, Agatha, and many more.