O May I Join the Choir Invisible! and Other Favorite Poems

"O May I Join the Choir Invisible! and Other Favorite Poems by George Eliot et al." is a collection of poetry that showcases the works of George Eliot, one of the most prominent literary figures of the Victorian era. This book was published in the late 19th century and encompasses a variety of poetic themes, likely exploring the intricacies of human emotion, social issues, and the beauty of nature. The collection features poignant reflections on life, loss, love, and the enduring power of art and memory. The poems within the collection offer a range of voices and styles, illustrating Eliot's deep understanding of humanity and its struggles. The titular poem, "O May I Join the Choir Invisible!", expresses a yearning for transcendence and a legacy of goodness that lingers after death. Other poems, such as “Mother and Poet,” delve into personal grief while also touching on broader themes of patriotism and sacrifice. Through rich imagery and emotional depth, the collection captures the complexities of the human experience, inviting readers to contemplate their own beliefs, relationships, and aspirations within the tapestry of life. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Mary Ann Evans, known by her pen name George Eliot, was an English novelist, poet, journalist, translator, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. She wrote seven novels: Adam Bede (1859), The Mill on the Floss (1860), Silas Marner (1861), Romola (1862–1863), Felix Holt, the Radical (1866), Middlemarch (1871–1872) and Daniel Deronda (1876). As with Charles Dickens and Thomas Hardy, she emerged from provincial England; most of her works are set there. Her works are known for their realism, psychological insight, sense of place and detailed depiction of the countryside. Middlemarch was described by the novelist Virginia Woolf as "one of the few English novels written for grown-up people" and by Martin Amis and Julian Barnes as the greatest novel in the English language.