George Eliot
George Eliot (1819-1880) is the pseudonym for the English writer Mary Anne
Evans. In her early life, she exhibited a lively intelligence and powerful
religious piety. She was bookish and shy and spent most of her time reading.
She could read and translate five languages. At age 18, Eliot's mother
passed away and she began to care for her father. Eliot's intense shyness
was only relieved when she became friends with Charles and Cara Bray,
political and religious freethinkers. Eliot's religious faith was
challenged by the onslaught of religious and scientific books being
published in Victorian England. When her faith no longer justified church
attendance, her father was appalled by her heresy. After many tense months,
they came to an agreement: she could believe whatever she wished if she
attended church and maintained an outwardly pious demeanor. After her
father's death, she lived abroad with her friends to stretch her meager income. Eliot's circle of friends expanded to include English
rationalists, writers, and poets. She became an editor at the "Westminster
Review" for which she received good notices.
Eliot became friends with George Lewes while they were both translating
German texts. They fell in love but were unable to marry. (George was unable
to divorce his wife, even though she was adulterous.) They lived happily
together for many years as husband and wife. Eliot was prone to unproductive
and introspective moody periods and Lewes was the only person who could draw
her out of them. Eliot's family denounced her for her conduct and cut off
all contact with her. Society condemned the Lewes and they lived
very quietly.
Eliot worked on translations, short stories and eventually, novels.
"Adam Bede" (1895), her first novel, combined realism and humor with finely
tuned psychological insight. Her books reflect both deep sympathy for her
characters and resolute moral judgement. "Middlemarch" (1871-1872) features
a finely detailed overview of English society and the class system. "The
Mill of the Floss" (1860), "Silas Marner" (1861), and "Daniel Deronda"(1876)
were also well received. After Lewes death, she married, at age 61, her
friend John Cross, age 40. She died less than a year later.
"She is magnificently ugly-- deliciously hideous...in this vast ugliness
resides a most powerful beauty which, in a very few minutes steals forth and
charms the mind, so that you end as I ended, in falling in love with her."
Henry James on George Eliot
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This article was written by Knowledgerush staff or contributed by users. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
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George Eliot was the pen name of English female novelist Mary Ann Evans (1819 - 1880). Born on November 22, 1819 on a farm near Nuneaton in Warwickshire, she used many of her real-life experiences in her books, which she wrote under a man's name in order to improve her chances of publication.
She defied convention by living for many years with George Henry Lewes, a writer, who died in 1878. On May 6, 1880 she married a friend, John Cross, an American banker, who was 20 years younger than her. They honeymooned in Venice and, allegedly, Cross jumped from their hotel balcony into the Grand Canal on their wedding night. She died in London of a kidney ailment on December 22 1880 and was interred in Highgate Cemetery (East), Highgate, London, England.
Her works include:
She also wrote a considerable amount of fine poetry.
(Collected Poems - ISBN 1871438403)
External links
Referenced By
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "George Eliot".
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If you know facts or have questions about this author post them here.
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hello. I have recently purchased 5 volumes of george eliot books at an auction. from the handwriting on the inside cover they were given as christmas gifts in 1890 and 1891. the hard covers are in quite good shape. as are the bindings and spines. the pages, while quite yellowed with age are all intact as well. I am wondering if, due to their age and overall good condition they would be considered rare and of any signifcant value to a collector. While I am tempted to read them, the delicate condition of the pages prevents me from doing so for fear of damaging them. I am just starting my journey into the world of rare and antique books and have much to learn, preferably from as few mistakes as possible. any assistance will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Hello,
My name is Amanda, I have recently ontained a book of George Eliot's that I am extremely thrilled about. I was wondering if you could give me more information about this book such as how rare it is, its value etc.
The book is a brown hard cover and on the front it reads "The Works of George Eliot". The title is on the spine, "Middlemarch". On the first page inside the book it reads " MIDDLEMARCH, A STUDY OF PROVINCIAL LIFE, BY GEORGE ELIOT......New York: F. M. Lupton, Publisher, 106 AND 108 Reade Street.
Thank you for any information you are able to give me.
You can reach me at amanda_okeefe@hotmail.com
Thanks;
Amanda
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Hello! I have a question for which no one at my university has been able to come up with an answer. In this day-and-age, most Victorian authors have been stripped of their pseudonyms, or are at least referred to by both names. As the clearest example, it is often difficult for someone who is not an English Lit scholar to identify the pseudonyms of teh Brontes, etc. Why then is Mary Anne Evans still published under the name George Eliot?
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I wonderd if anyone would be interested in purchasing quite of a few of Eliot's books which are in pristine condition?
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