George Eliot, the pen name of Mary Ann Evans (1819–1880), was an English novelist recognized for her penetrating and comprehensive narrative style, which often delved into the intricacies of rural society. Eliot's unconventional life and intellectual prowess set her apart in Victorian England. Publishing under a male pseudonym, she allowed her work to be judged away from the female writer stereotype and earned her place as a towering figure in the literary canon. Her notable works, compiled in 'The Complete Novels of George Eliot,' include 'Middlemarch,' 'Silas Marner,' 'The Mill on the Floss,' 'Adam Bede,' and 'Daniel Deronda.' These novels are celebrated for their realism and psychological insight, as well as their use of moral issues and social commentary that often reflect Eliot's own humanist beliefs. Eliot's Middlemarch is particularly esteemed for its ambitious scope—exploring the lives of several inhabitants of a provincial English town—and is frequently lauded as one of the greatest novels in the English language. Eliot's literary style, characterized by its narrative depth and keen observation of character, continues to influence and resonate with readers and scholars alike.