The Critical Heritage gathers together a large body of critical sources on major figures in literature. Each volume presents contemporary responses to a writer's work, enabling students and researchers to read the material themselves.

Introduction; Part 1 Scenes of Clerical Life; Chapter 1 John Black Wood Discovers a New Author; Chapter 2 Samuel Lucas, Unsigned Review, The Times; Chapter 3 George Eliot’s Journal; Chapter 4 Unsigned Review, Atlantic Monthly; Chapter 5 Unsigned Review, Saturday Review; Part 2 Adam Bede; Chapter 6 Jane Welsh Carlyle to George Eliot; Chapter 7 Unsigned Review, Saturday Review; Chapter 8 E. S. Dallas, Unsigned Review, The Times; Chapter 9 Charles Dickens, Letter to George Eliot; Chapter 10 Anne Mozley, Unsigned Review, Berkley’s Quarterly Review; Chapter 11 Unsigned Review, London Quarterly Review; Part 3 The Mill on the Floss; Chapter 12 Unsigned Review, Spectator; Chapter 13 Unsigned Review, Saturday Review; Chapter 14 Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton to John Blackwood; Chapter 15 George Eliot to John Blackwood; Chapter 16 Unsigned Review, Guardian; Chapter 17 E. S. Dallas, Unsigned Review, The Times; Chapter 18 George Eliot to William Blackwood; Chapter 19 Unsigned Review, Westminster Review; Chapter 20 Unsigned Review, Dublin University Magazine; Chapter 21 Dinah Mulock, Unsigned Review, Macmillan’s Magazine; Chapter 22 George Eliot Replies to a Critic; Chapter 23 Swinburne: ‘The Hideous Transformation’; Chapter 24 Ruskin; Part 4 Silas Marner; Chapter 25 John Blackwood to George Eliot; Chapter 26 George Eliot to John Blackwood; Chapter 27 Unsigned Review, Saturday Review; Chapter 28 R. H. Hutton, Unsigned Review, Economist; Chapter 29 E. S. Dallas, Unsigned Review, The Times; Chapter 30 Unsigned Review, Westminster Review; Chapter 31 Unsigned Review, Dublin University Magazine; Part 5 Romola; Chapter 32 Anthony Trollope to George Eliot; Chapter 33 Unsigned Review, Athenaeum; Chapter 34 R. H. Hutton, Unsigned Review, Spectator; Chapter 35 George Eliot to R. H. Hutton; Chapter 36 Unsigned Review, Saturday Review; Chapter 37 Unsigned Review, Westminster Review; Chapter 38 Richard Simpson on George Eliot; Part 6 Felix Holt; Chapter 39 John Morley, Unsigned Review, Saturday Review; Chapter 40 R. H. Hutton, Unsigned Review, Spectator; Chapter 41 E. S. Dallas, Unsigned Review, The Times; Chapter 42 Frederic Harrison to George Eliot; Chapter 43 Henry James, Unsigned Review, Nation; Chapter 44 G. S. Venables, Unsigned Review, Edinburgh Review; Part 7 Middlemarch; Chapter 45 R. H. Hutton, Unsigned Reviews, Spectator; Chapter 46 Unsigned Review, Saturday Review; Chapter 47 Edward Dowden; Chapter 48 H. Lawrenny, Edith Simcox], Review, Academy; Chapter 49 Sidney Colvin, Review, Fortnightly Review; Chapter 50 A, V. Dicey, Unsigned Review, Nation; Chapter 51 Henry James, Unsigned Review, Galaxy; Part 8 Daniel Deronda; Chapter 52 Unsigned Notice, Academy; Chapter 53 Henry James, Unsigned Notice, Nation; Chapter 54 Extracts from George Eliot’s Journal; Chapter 55 R. H. Hutton, Unsigned Review, Spectator; Chapter 56 George Saintsbury, Review, Academy; Chapter 57 Unsigned Review, Saturday Review; Chapter 58 R. E. Francillon, Review, Gentleman’s Magazine; Chapter 59 A. V. Dicey, Unsigned Review, Nation; Chapter 60 George Eliot to Harriet Beecher Stowe; Chapter 61 James Picciotto, Review, Gentleman’s Magazine; Chapter 62 Henry James: ‘Daniel Deronda: A Conversation’; Chapter 63 R. R. Bowker, Unsigned Review, International Review; Chapter 64 Edward Dowden, Review, Contemporary Review; Chapter 65 W. H. Mallock on George Eliot; Chapter 66 Lord Acton on George Eliot; Chapter 67 Leslie Stephen on George Eliot; Chapter 68 A Too Serious Life, Unsigned Review of Cross’s Life, Saturday Review; Chapter 69 Henry James on George Eliot;