George Eliot was the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, a renowned English novelist and one of the most significant literary figures of the Victorian era. Known for her psychological insight, social commentary, and masterful storytelling, Eliot's works remain celebrated for their deep exploration of human character and moral dilemmas. Her novels, such as Middlemarch and Silas Marner, are cornerstones of English literature, combining realism with profound philosophical undertones. Born on November 22, 1819, in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, Mary Ann Evans grew up in a rural environment that would later inspire the settings of many of her novels. Her father, Robert Evans, managed estates, giving her early exposure to the complexities of rural life and society. An avid reader from a young age, she received a rigorous education uncommon for women of her time, studying languages, philosophy, and theology. Her intellectual curiosity and skepticism toward traditional religion led her to adopt unconventional views, which eventually estranged her from her conservative family. Moving to London in the 1850s, she became involved in the city's vibrant literary and intellectual circles, working as a translator and editor for the Westminster Review, a leading journal of the time. Mary Ann Evans adopted the pseudonym "George Eliot" to ensure her works would be taken seriously in a male-dominated literary world. Her debut novel, Adam Bede (1859), was an immediate success, praised for its realism and moral complexity. This was followed by a series of acclaimed works, including The Mill on the Floss (1860), Silas Marner (1861), and her magnum opus, Middlemarch (1871-1872).