George Eliot

George Eliot Biography

George Eliot (born Mary Ann Evans; November 22, 1819 – December 22, 1880) was an English novelist, poet, journalist, and translator, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. Born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England, she adopted the male pen name 'George Eliot' to ensure her works were taken seriously in a time when female authors were often stereotyped.

Eliot's early education was at Mrs. Wallington's School in Nuneaton and later at Misses Franklin's School in Coventry. After her mother's death in 1836, she returned home to care for her father. During this period, she continued her studies, learning several languages, including French, German, Italian, and Hebrew, which later influenced her literary and translation work.

In 1850, Eliot moved to London, where she became assistant editor of the Westminster Review, a leading journal for philosophical radicals. Here, she entered the intellectual circles of the time and met George Henry Lewes, a philosopher and critic. Despite Lewes being in an open marriage, they formed a close partnership and lived together from 1854 until his death in 1878, a relationship that was socially controversial but personally fulfilling for Eliot.

Encouraged by Lewes, Eliot began writing fiction. Her first collection of stories, Scenes of Clerical Life, was published in 1857 under her pen name. This was followed by several novels that have become classics of English literature: Adam Bede (1859), The Mill on the Floss (1860), Silas Marner (1861), Romola (1862–63), Felix Holt, the Radical (1866), Middlemarch (1871–72), and Daniel Deronda (1876). Her works are celebrated for their realism, psychological insight, and detailed depiction of rural society.

Eliot's personal life was marked by her unconventional relationship with Lewes and her later marriage to John Cross in 1880, just months before her death. She passed away on December 22, 1880, in London and was buried in Highgate Cemetery.

Trivia About George Eliot

• Eliot's decision to use a male pen name was partly to distance herself from the 'silly novels by lady novelists' stereotype she critiqued in her essays.
• She was fluent in several languages, including French and German, which aided her work as a translator.
• Her novel Middlemarch is often cited as one of the greatest novels in the English language.
• Eliot's relationship with George Henry Lewes was considered scandalous at the time due to his existing marriage.

Famous Quotes by George Eliot

• 'It is never too late to be what you might have been.'
• 'What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?'

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who was George Eliot?

George Eliot was the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, an English novelist, poet, journalist, and translator, renowned for her contributions to Victorian literature.

What are some of her notable works?

Some of her notable works include Middlemarch, Silas Marner, and The Mill on the Floss.

Why did she use a male pen name?

She used a male pen name to ensure her works were taken seriously and to avoid the stereotype associated with female authors of her time.

Related Literary Movements

George Eliot is associated with literary realism, focusing on detailed character development and social commentary.

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