George Eliot
Mary Ann Evans, known as George Eliot, was born on November 22, 1819, in Nuneaton, England. Raised in a rural setting, she absorbed Christian teachings before delving into literature at her father's estate library. In Coventry, she encountered progressive thinkers like the Brays, prompting a departure from orthodox beliefs.
Following her father's death in 1849, Eliot settled in London, contributing prolifically to The Westminster Review. Her relationship with George Henry Lewes, a separated critic, sparked controversy but was pivotal for her intellectual growth. Publishing under the pseudonym George Eliot, she gained acclaim with "Scenes of Clerical Life" (1857), "Adam Bede" (1859), "The Mill on the Floss" (1860), and the monumental "Middlemarch" (1871–72).
After Lewes's death in 1878, Eliot married John Cross in 1880 but passed away later that year at sixty-one. Her legacy endures through her insightful portrayal of diverse characters and societal issues, exploring themes of morality and transformation. George Eliot's literary contributions continue to resonate, reflecting her profound intellect and enduring influence on Victorian literature.