Pen name of Mary Ann Evans (1819-1880) was a English novelist, who portrayed Victorian society, particularly its intellectual hypocrisy, with realism and irony.
In 1857 she published the story "Amas Barton", the first of the Scenes of Clerical Life. This was followed by the novels Adam Bede in 1859, The Mill on the Floss in 1860, and Silas Mamer in 1861.
Middlemarch in 1872 is now considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. Her final book Daniel Deronda in 1876 was concerned with anti-Semitism. She also wrote poetry.
Born at Chilvers Coton, Warwickshire, she had a strict evangelical upbringing, but on moving to Coventry with her father in 1841 was converted to free thought (a movement opposed to Christian dogma).
As assistant editor
of the Westminster Review under John Chapman 1851-1853, she made the acquaintance of Carlyle, Harriet Martineau, Herbert Spencer, and the philosopher and critic George Henry Lewes (1817-1878).
Lewes was married but separated from his wife, and from 1854 he and Eliot lived together in a relationship which she regarded as a true marriage and which continued until his death.
In 1880 she married John Cross (1840-1924).
Why is George Eliot famous?
George Eliot was a English novelist and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era.Life in Brief:
- Being born on Nov 22, George was a Sagittarius.
- her ethnicity: White.
George Eliot studied at Mrs. Wallington's School, Nuneaton (boarding school, in 1828-32).
George dated John Walter Cross (husband) and amongst other amorous encounters was George Henry Lewes (boyfriend).
She died on Wednesday, December 22, 1880, in London; cause of death: kidney failure.
Famous Why : Silas Marner.
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