Britannica Sources used in this answer

How did George Eliot research the historical setting of Romola?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Portrait drawing of George Eliot, pseudonym of Mary Ann Evans, with wavy dark hair, lace collar, and a calm expression, based on an 1865 work by Sir Frederic William Burton. — George Eliot George Eliot, engraving derived from a chalk drawing (1865) by Sir Frederic William Burton.

To research the historical setting of her novel Romola, George Eliot engaged in a scrupulous study of 15th-century Florence.12

Her research process involved two primary methods:

Library Research: She conducted extensive investigations into Florentine history, setting, costume, and dialogue at the British Museum.2
Fieldwork: She supplemented her archival work with a second trip to Italy in 1861 to observe the setting firsthand, building upon an initial visit to Florence in 1860 where the subject was first suggested to her by George Henry Lewes.2

This rigorous preparation reflected Eliot's commitment to historical accuracy, ensuring that the novel—which weaves in the career of Girolamo Savonarola and the decline of the Medici family—was grounded in authentic detail.12