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The Life and Works of George Eliot

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George Eliot, the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, was a Victorian novelist known for works like 'Middlemarch' and 'The Mill on the Floss'. Her writing, which includes novels, short stories, and poetry, delves into themes of human psychology, societal norms, and morality. Eliot's life, her partnership with George Henry Lewes, and her use of a male pseudonym to avoid gender biases in her time, all contributed to her legacy as a leading figure in English literature.

George Eliot: The Pen Name of Mary Ann Evans

George Eliot was the chosen pen name of Mary Ann Evans, a prominent figure in Victorian literature renowned for her novels, poetry, translations, and journalistic work. Born on November 22, 1819, in Warwickshire, England, Evans was afforded an extensive education, which was atypical for women of her era. Her father, Robert Evans, was an estate manager, which provided her with a comfortable life and access to a wide range of reading material. This early exposure to literature greatly influenced her future writings. She adopted a male pseudonym to ensure her work was judged on its own merits in a society that often undervalued female authors and to separate her professional life from her personal one, which was considered unconventional at the time.
Victorian-era writing desk with polished mahogany, open leather-bound book, quill pen and inkwell, porcelain teacup with blue flowers, and brass candlestick.

Formative Years and Intellectual Development

Mary Ann Evans spent her early years in Nuneaton and later Coventry, where she moved with her father in 1841. Her intellectual growth was nurtured in Coventry, where she associated with progressive thinkers such as Charles and Cara Bray. It was here that she translated "The Essence of Christianity" by Ludwig Feuerbach, a work that challenged traditional religious views and influenced her own thinking. After her father's death, Evans began contributing to the Westminster Review, a periodical known for its radical views, where she wrote articles on social and religious topics, further developing her critical voice.

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Born on ______, in ______, England, Mary Ann Evans had the advantage of a comprehensive education uncommon for women during that period.

November 22, 1819

Warwickshire

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Mary Ann Evans's pseudonym

Published under the name George Eliot to escape female author stereotypes.

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Significance of 'The Essence of Christianity' translation

Evans translated Feuerbach's work, challenging traditional religion and shaping her views.

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