Mary Ann Evans (1819-1880), better known under her pen-name George Eliot , was a British journalist, critic, poet and novelist from the Victorian period. She was credited with introducing the method of psychological analysis that plays a major role in modern fiction. Some of her major works include The Mill on the Floss (1860), Silas Marner (1861) and Middlemarch (1871-72). Evans deliberately chose a pen-name to distance herself from the stereotypical women's writings primarily lighthearted romances. Instead, she focused on the intellectual pursuit of providing psychological insight to her characters. Her novels were highly political in nature. Evans died at the age of 61. She is still regarded as one of the most important writers of the Victorian Age.
Silas Marner is the extraordinary yet simple tale of a linen weaver, who is forced to seek a livelihood away from his hometown after being betrayed by his best friend and his loved one. Silas finds solace in bringing up a small girl child when his entire savings are robbed. The novel by George Eliot is notable for its strong realism and its treatment of social issues from religion to community. But more importantly, it teaches us that love can conquer all hurdles and obstacles in life.
