George Eliot (November 22, 1819 – December 22, 1880; real name Mary Ann Evans; sometimes called herself Marian) was born in Warwickshire, England. Her probing Victorian novels have confirmed her reputation as a giant of English litereture; arguably, Middlemarch (1871 – 72) is her greatest achievement.

Her writing was politically and socially driven, with characters that are small-town individuals, some free thinkers, each with great psychological depth. 

Eliot is also recognized for her interest in and knowledge of the visual arts. Her surviving journals and other writings contain information on trips to museums and a collection of her thoughts and emotions connected to the artworks she viewed. Read More→