The Mill on the Floss is George Eliot's 1860 vel, which tells the story of Tom and Maggie Tulliver, a brother and sister growing up on the river Floss near the village of St. Oggs. Set in the early 1800s over a period of ten to fifteen years, The Mill on the Floss follows the two main characters from childhood. Central to the theme of the vel is the struggle of man between spiritual determinism and free will. A classic work of 19th century literature, The Mill on the Floss remains a popular and enduring example of George Eliot's impact on English literature.