The Life of George Eliot

Name: The Life of George Eliot
Author: John Morley

The biography chronicles the life of Mary Ann Evans, a prominent Victorian novelist and essayist who adopted the male pseudonym George Eliot to conceal her identity due to societal norms. Born in 1819, Evans was raised in a family that valued education and literature. She developed a strong interest in philosophy and literature, which would later influence her writing style. Evans' early life was marked by a tumultuous relationship with her father, who struggled financially and emotionally. Her mother's death when Evans was just seven years old further complicated their relationship. In 1841, Evans moved to Coventry to work as a schoolteacher, where she began to develop her writing skills. She started contributing articles to various publications under pseudonyms, eventually adopting the name George Eliot for her literary works. Eliot's novels, such as "Middlemarch" and "Silas Marner", explored themes of morality, social class, and personal identity. Her writing style was characterized by its realism, depth, and nuance. In 1854, Eliot began a romantic relationship with George Henry Lewes, a writer and critic who had been married before. Their unconventional relationship sparked controversy due to the societal norms of the time. Eliot's later life was marked by personal struggles, including health issues and financial difficulties. She died in 1880 at the age of 61, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential writers of her generation. The biography provides an in-depth examination of Eliot's life, exploring her relationships, literary career, and personal struggles. It offers a nuanced portrayal of a complex individual who defied societal norms to pursue her artistic vision.

By John Morley · First published 1878 · Genre: Biography, Literary Criticism, Philosophy · 12,103 words

First lines

The illustrious woman who is the subject of these volumes makes a remark to her publisher which is at least as relevant now as it was then. Can nothing be done, she asks, by dispassionate criticism towards the reform of our national habits in the matter of literary biography? 'Is it anything short of odious that as soon as a man is dead his desk should be raked, and every insignificant memorandum which he never meant for the public be printed for the gossiping amusement of people too idle to reread his books? ' Autobiography, she says, at least saves a man or a woman that the world is curious about, from the publication of a string of mistakes called Memoirs. Even to autobiography, however, she confesses her deep repugnance unless it can be written so as to involve neither self-glorification nor impeachment of others -- a condition, by the way, with which hardly any, save Mill's, can be said to comply. 'I like,' she proceeds, 'that _He being dead yet speaketh_ should have quite another meaning than that' (iii. 226, 297, 307). She shows the same fastidious apprehension still more clearly in another way. 'I have destroyed almost all my friends' letters to me,' she says, 'because they were only intended for my eyes, and could only fall into the hands of persons who knew little of the writers if I allowed them to remain till after my death. In proportion as I love every form of piety -- which is venerating love -- I hate hard curiosity; and, unhappily, my experience has impressed me with the sense that hard curiosity is the more common temper of mind' (ii. 286). There is probably little difference among us in respect of such experience as that.[1]

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Work type: Article
Author: John Morley
Date: 1878 CE
Language: English
Genres: Biography, Literary Criticism, Philosophy, Historical Context, Epistolary
Length: 12,103 words
Structure: 1 section, 73 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Genres

Biography — The work is primarily a biography, detailing the life and thoughts of a significant literary figure.
Literary Criticism — It includes critical analysis of the subject's works and their impact on literature and society.
Philosophy — The text explores philosophical themes, particularly regarding morality, duty, and the human condition.
Historical Context — It provides context about the historical and cultural environment in which the subject lived and worked.