.Eliot and eighteenth-century topographical painting VIⅢ.Adam Bede 1.Introduction Adam Bede,the first novel writtenby George Eliot(the pen name of Mary Ann Evans),was published in 1859.It was published pseudonymouslyeven though Evans wasa well-published and highly respected scholar ofher time.The novel has remained in printever since,and is used in university studies of 19th century English literature. 2. Literary significance criticism Immediately recognized as a significant literary work,Adam Bede has enjoyed a largely positive critical reputation since its publication.Ananonymousreview in The Athenaeum in 1859 praised it as a "novel ofthe highest class,"and The Times 10 called it "a first-ratenovel."Contemporary reviewers,often influenced by nostalgia for theearlier period represented in Bede,enthusiastically praised Eliot's characterizations and realistic representations ofrural life.Charles Dickens wrote "The whole country life that the story is set in,is so real,• Eliot and eighteenth-century topographical painting VIII. Adam Bede 1. Introduction Adam Bede, the first novel written by George Eliot (the pen name of Mary Ann Evans), was published in 1859. It was published pseudonymously, even though Evans was a well-published and highly respected scholar of her time. The novel has remained in print ever since, and is used in university studies of 19th century English literature. 2. Literary significance & criticism Immediately recognized as a significant literary work, Adam Bede has enjoyed a largely positive critical reputation since its publication. An anonymous review in The Athenaeum in 1859 praised it as a "novel of the highest class," and The Times called it "a first-rate novel." Contemporary reviewers, often influenced by nostalgia for the earlier period represented in Bede, enthusiastically praised Eliot's characterizations and realistic representations of rural life. Charles Dickens wrote: "The whole country life that the story is set in, is so real, 5’ 10’