George Eliot

George Eliot by Samuel Laurence

George Eliot BNF Gallica

George Eliot 31 Wimbledon Park Road blue plaque

Highgate Cemetery - East - George Eliot 01

Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery Riversley Park

George Eliot (22 November 1819 – 22 December 1880), born Mary Ann Evans, was an English novelist, poet, journalist, translator, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. Her novels, largely set in provincial England, are well known for their realism and psychological insight. Eliot used a male pen name to ensure her works were taken seriously in an era when female authors were usually associated with romantic novels.

Early Life

Mary Ann Evans was born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, to a local estate manager and his wife. She was the youngest of three siblings. The early death of her mother prompted Evans to take on the role of housekeeper and caregiver to her father. This period of her life significantly influenced her later writings. Evans was an avid reader from a young age and received a good education, which was unusual for women at the time. She attended several schools but was largely self-educated.

Career

Eliot's career began after moving to London in 1851, where she worked as an assistant editor for the Westminster Review, a leading intellectual journal of the time. Her exposure to the literary and philosophical circles of London played a crucial role in her development as a writer.

Her first major work, Scenes of Clerical Life (1858), was published under the pseudonym George Eliot. This was followed by what are considered her greatest works: Adam Bede (1859), The Mill on the Floss (1860), Silas Marner (1861), Middlemarch (1871–72), and Daniel Deronda (1876). These novels are celebrated for their nuanced exploration of human psychology, moral philosophy, and the impact of societal changes on individuals' lives.

Themes and Style

Eliot's writing is characterized by its realism, complex characters, and detailed depiction of the social fabric of Victorian England. She explored themes such as the rural society, the individual's place within it, and the conflicts between personal desires and societal expectations. Eliot was also interested in the ideas of progress and the possibility of societal improvement through understanding and empathy.

Personal Life

Eliot's personal life was marked by controversy, primarily due to her relationship with George Henry Lewes, a married man whose wife had left him. Eliot and Lewes lived together as husband and wife from 1854 until his death in 1878, though they were unable to marry legally. This relationship isolated Eliot from many circles but also provided her with stability and intellectual companionship.

In 1880, Eliot married John Cross, a man twenty years her junior. This marriage lasted until her death later that year.

Legacy

George Eliot's novels have contributed significantly to English literature and the development of the novel as a form. Her works are praised for their insight into human nature and society. Eliot's influence extends beyond literature; her writings have been of interest to feminist and social theorists. Today, Eliot is regarded as one of the preeminent writers of the Victorian era, and her novels continue to be widely read and studied.