George Eliot

Date of Birth: November 22, 1819

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: December 22, 1880

Biography

George Eliot, born Mary Ann Evans, was a renowned English novelist, poet, journalist, and translator, who played a significant role in the literary scene of the Victorian era. She was born on November 22, 1819, in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England. Eliot is best known for her novels “Middlemarch,” “Silas Marner,” and “The Mill on the Floss,” which are celebrated for their detailed depictions of rural society, psychological insight, and exploration of social, political, and moral issues. Eliot adopted her pseudonym to ensure that her works were taken seriously in a male-dominated literary world. Throughout her career, she maintained a keen interest in the human condition, exploring themes such as personal integrity, social reform, and the consequences of individual actions. Her relationship with the philosopher and critic George Henry Lewes was pivotal in her life, both personally and professionally. Together they formed a partnership that lasted until Lewes’s death in 1878. Eliot’s literary achievements earned her critical acclaim and a lasting place in the canon of English literature. She passed away on December 22, 1880, in London, and was buried in Highgate Cemetery.

5 Interesting Facts about George Eliot

1. George Eliot’s real name was Mary Ann Evans, but she used a male pen name to be taken more seriously as a writer.

2. “Middlemarch,” one of her most famous novels, was published in eight installments between 1871 and 1872.

3. Eliot was in a long-term relationship with George Henry Lewes, who was legally married to another woman.

4. She was also a skilled translator and translated important philosophical texts from German into English.

5. Eliot’s novels often focus on the lives and moral choices of ordinary people, rather than the upper class or royalty.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from George Eliot

1. “It is never too late to be what you might have been.”

2. “What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?”

3. “Blessed is the influence of one true, loving human soul on another.”

4. “It is a narrow mind which cannot look at a subject from various points of view.”

5. “The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

While historical records do not provide exact figures, George Eliot was financially successful during her lifetime, earning a comfortable living from her literary works.

Children

George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) did not have any biological children. However, she played a significant role in the lives of George Henry Lewes’s children from his previous marriage.