The Complete Novels (eBook)

George Eliot, the pen name of Mary Ann Evans (22 November 1819 – 22 December 1880), was an English novelist, poet, journalist, translator, and a leading writer of the Victorian era. Her novels, renowned for their realism and psychological insights, are imbued with her keen observation and sardonic wit. Eliot's exploration of complex social and moral issues, along with her fluid prose style, have earned her an eminent place in the canon of British literature. Her opus, 'The Complete Novels,' encompasses a series of works that depict the fabric of provincial life, tackling themes of love, knowledge, and society's expectations. This collection typically includes her major works such as 'Middlemarch,' a seminal narrative of a small town, which is often hailed as one of the greatest novels in English literature for its ambition and detail. 'The Mill on the Floss' and 'Silas Marner' are other crucial narratives known for their depth of characterization and emotional power. Eliot's intellectual vigour and descriptive mastery, demonstrated in these novels, mirror her own complex life and beliefs. She challenged societal norms not just through her literature, but also in her personal life, evidenced by her relationship with the married philosopher and critic George Henry Lewes. Eliot's literary style is characterized by her commitment to detailed narrative and layered characters, often examining themes of morality and the tension between individual desires and societal expectations. Her works, while dense and intricate, remain a cornerstone of Victorian literature and continue to be revered, studied, and loved to this day.