The George Eliot Fellowship
The George Eliot Fellowship exists to honour George Eliot and to promote interest in her life and works. It is a forum for those who admire her writing, and for those who wish to learn more.
It encourages the collection of books, manuscripts and other artefacts nationally as well as locally around Nuneaton, Bedworth, North Warwickshire and Coventry.
The Fellowship is run by a Council which meets most months in Nuneaton. Its vice-presidents, however, come from universities and seats of learning all over the world, and its members (500+) come from 17 countries, with especially strong membership in Japan and America.
The Fellowship was founded in 1930 and has championed George Eliot ever since. It successfully proposed a George Eliot Memorial Garden in Nuneaton in 1952 and since then, apart from its regular annual events, it has:
- In 1980, to mark the centenary of George Eliot's death, enabled a memorial stone to be placed in Westminster Abbey.
- In 1986 commissioned a bronze statue by John Letts, which now stands in the middle of Nuneaton.
- For the Millennium the Fellowship paid for a restful garden around the replica Letts statue at the George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton.
- In 2002 the Fellowship sponsored, wrote and illustrated the Pitkin Guide to George Eliot (available still at £3.50 post paid).
- An annual prize is awarded for an essay on George Eliot's life, works, family or friends.
We welcome new members and hope to attract many more through a new website which is in course of preparation. The full website will include a biography of George Eliot, significant dates, details of the Fellowship´s archive, a tour of George Eliot Country, and extensive details of future events.
For serious readers the site will also include extensive references to the annual George Eliot Review, edited by Dr Beryl Gray and Dr John Rignall, and there will be a chance to read earlier editions on-line. Each edition in future will be published on-line, in addition to the printed copy which goes to all members and university departments.
Membership Benefits
Benefits of membership are that you join a group of like-minded George Eliot enthusiasts who enjoy:
- A quarterly newsletter of George Eliot related facts and events
- A copy of the Annual George Eliot Review
- Access to George Eliot workshop days with distinguished academic speakers
- Annual George Eliot Readings from actors like Gabriel Woolf and Rosalind Shanks
- Wreath-laying ceremonies in Nuneaton and Westminster Abbey
- Annual George Eliot lecture from an Eliot specialist
- Annual birthday luncheon in November with distinguished guest speaker
- Literary outings and other special George Eliot events
- Special rates for some George Eliot publications
George Eliot Country - Self Guided Walking Tour
In 2006 the George Eliot Fellowship together with Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council and CVOne produced a Self Guided George Eliot Walking Tour around Nuneaton. A PDF of this tour can be downloaded by clicking on the front cover picture left.
